MNUFC2 earned three points after securing a 3-2 victory over Austin FC II at the National Sports Center on Sunday afternoon. The Twos’ victory in today’s match guaranteed them safety from playoffs elimination for another week. Looking forward, MNUFC2 will head to Missouri next week to face St. Louis CITY2 at CITYPARK on September 15.
MNUFC2 scored the opening goal in the fourth minute, after Sam Shashoua received the ball from defender Hugo Bacharach and took space up the pitch, dribbling past two defenders before he fired off a long-range shot just outside the 18-yard box. His shot slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to give the Twos the early 1-0 lead.
In the 21st minute, the Twos kept Austin FC II under pressure with two consecutive chances to goal. Minnesota found their first chance after a service into the oppositions box was deflected by the Texas side goalkeeper Marcus Alstrup to the feet of Darius Randell for a one-touch inside the six-yard box but was blocked out by an Austin defender. Right after, Minnesota gained possession outside the 18-yard box where they found first team defender Anthony Markanich on the left flank for a wide shot that was saved by Alstrup.
Shortly after those two dangerous chances, MNUFC2 was able to find yet another unopposed shot in the 23rd minute when Jordan Adebayo-Smith pulled up right outside the 18-yard box and took an open shot on goal, but missed wide of the right post.
Austin FC II then equalized in the 34th minute after Anthony Garcia found the ball at his feet off the mistouch made by Minnesota. Garcia was then able to chip the ball past goalkeeper Alec Smir and into the back of the net.
Less than 10 minutes later, the opposition nearly gained the lead in the 42nd minute, after Antonio Gomez fired off a shot from the right flank that hit the inside of the right post and went wide.
Starting off the second half strong, the Twos regained the lead in the 47th minute after Loïc Mesanvi gained possession and dribbled up the pitch where he fired off a long-distance shot 30 yards out from the goal. Mesanvi’s shot from distance went over the top of Alstrup and into goal.
MNUFC2 added to their lead in the 52 minute. Jordan Adebayo-Smith was fouled inside the box and was awarded a penalty kick. The forward took the penalty and slotted it into the right side corner to give the Twos the 3-1 advantage.
In the 60th minute, Austin FC II forward Diego Abarca was shown a second yellow card, and therefore was ejected from the game. The Verde & Green were left to play a man down for the rest of the match.
The Texas side put another tally on the scoreboard in the 89th minute after being awarded a penalty kick. Jimmy Farkarlun stepped up and was able to convert the penalty, but the goal wasn’t enough, ending the match 3-2 in favor of MNUFC2.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Sam Shashoua, assisted by Hugo Bacharach (4’)
1-1 ATXII - Anthony Garcia, assisted by Rubén Bonachera (34’)
2-1 MNUFC2 - Loïc Mesanvi (47’)
3-1 MNUFC - Jordan Adebayo-Smith, penalty (52’)
3-2 ATXII - Jimmy Farkarlun, penalty (89’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, MNUFC2 - Aidan Martinez (37’)
Caution, ATXII - Nicolas Van Rijn (51’)
Caution, ATXII - Diego Abarca (54’)
Ejection, ATXII - Diego Abarca (60’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Moses Nyeman (82’)
NOTABLE STATS
4’ - Sam Shashoua, in the fourth minute against Austin FC II, scored the quickest goal of the 2024 regular season, to-date, and notably the second-quickest goal in MNUFC2 history. Tani Oluwaseyi scored the quickest goal in MNUFC2 history (3’) against Ventura County FC on April 9, 2023.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through Sept. 8)
Goals – Patrick Weah (8)
Assists – Britton Fischer (4)
Saves – Alec Smir (25)
Wins – Alec Smir, Clint Irwin (3)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (2)
