A back-and-forth match, full of scoring, resulted in a late-game stunner at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota on Sunday night, where MNUFC2 fought until the end, ultimately dropping the match 4-3 against Sporting Kansas City II.
The first chance of the game came from MNUFC2 in the seventh minute when midfielder Rory O’Driscoll whipped in a ball from a corner kick, into the box. Twos defender Finn McRobb had a header attempt from the service, but the ball went over the crossbar.
Sporting Kansas City II forward Beto Avila scored the first goal of the game in the 10th minute. A turnover from Minnesota at midfield gave Avila the breakaway chance and the forward chipped his shot past goalkeeper Alec Smir into the back of the net to give the away side the early lead.
In the 23rd minute Minnesota United Homegrown forward Patrick Weah charged up into the six-yard box to try and score at close range, but Denarre Montoute blocked Weah’s shot to stifle the chance.
But, the Twos got their opportunity in the 34th minute. MNUFC2 midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr. was fouled right inside the 18-yard box by Christopher Rindov, giving Minnesota the opportunity to level up the game with a penalty kick. Weah took and converted the penalty kick in the 35th minute.
Just a few minutes later in the 39th minute, MNUFC2 reclaimed the lead from SKC II. During an offensive drive by the Twos, Jordan Adebayo-Smith quickly gained possession on the outside of the box, striking a shot that hit the crossbar and rebounded to the opposite end. Weah was at the right place at the right time, receiving the rebound and finishing the scoring chance to give the Loons the 2-1 lead.
In the fourth minute of added first-half stoppage time, a through-ball in the midfield found the feet of Maouloune Goumballe, who in turn sent it back through the box where an unmarked Sebastian Cruz slotted his shot into the back of the net to equalize the match right before halftime.
The visiting side regained the lead in the 66th minute after Macielo Tschnantret — inside the Twos’ box — chipped a ball deeper inside the six-yard box, connecting with Alex Cunningham, who struck a strong one-touch shot into the near post, making the score 3-2 in favor of SKC II.
In the 86th minute, the Twos responded when Kage Romanshyn Jr. was tackled in the box and ultimately was awarded a penalty kick. He stepped up at the mark and slotted his attempt into the bottom right corner of the net, equalizing the game once again for MNUFC2.
But, it was the Kansas City side that had the last laugh of the night, scoring the eventual game-winner in the first minute of added second-half stoppage time, where Cruz sneaked his way behind the MNUFC2 back line, forcing Smir to make an attempt far off the goal line to stop the run. Cruz then beat Smir and netted the final goal of the night.
GOALS
0-1 SKC II - Beto Avila (10’)
1-1 MNUFC2 - Patrick Weah, PK (35’)
2-1 MNUFC2 - Patrick Weah, (39’)
2-2 SKC II - Sebastian Cruz, assisted by Maouloune Goumballe, (45’+4’)
2-3 SKC II - Alex Cunningam, assisted by Macielo Tschnantret (66’)
3-3 MNUFC2 - Kage Romanshyn Jr., PK (86’)
3-4 SKC II - Sebastian Cruz, assisted by Pau Vidal (90’+1’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, SKC II - Roberto Hategan (24’)
Caution, SKC II - Christopher Rindov (40’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Darius Randell (90’+3’)
NOTABLE STATS
2 – Minnesota United forward Patrick Weah scored a first-half brace against Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday night. These two tallies bring Weah’s total to seven goals so far in 2024.
1 - MNUFC2 midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr. scored his first goal of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through June 2)
Goals – Patrick Weah (7)
Assists – Britton Fischer, Molik Jesse Khan (2)
Saves – Alec Smir (19)
Wins – Alec Smir (2)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (1)
