Quick moments make all the difference in a given game. That was the case Sunday evening when MNUFC2 scored two goals in the final five minutes of the match against St. Louis CITY2 to secure a 3-1 come-from-behind victory.
St. Louis CITY2’s high-press attack proved to be a challenge for the Twos throughout the first half, making their mark quickly within the first five minutes on Sunday evening. A foul inside the box by Britton Fischer awarded the home team a penalty kick in the fourth minute. Celio Pompeu took the attempt that was saved by MNUFC2 goalkeeper Fred Emmings in the fifth minute. But, seconds later off the restart corner kick, CITY2 took the 1-0 lead from an Akil Watts header to the far post.
In the second half, the Twos picked up the pressure, taking advantage of multiple breakaway moments, but came up empty up until the 66th minute, when the Minnesota side won a free kick at the top left corner of the CITY2 goalkeepers’ box. Joseph Rosales took the shot that hit the crossbar, but Juan Mosquera found space and scored the equalizer off the rebound. As a result of the foul that awarded the Twos the free kick, CITY2’s Josh Maher received his second caution of the night, and was sent off the pitch, leaving St. Louis a man down the remainder of the match.
After winning another free kick in the 85th minute, MNUFC2’s Cameron Dunbar took the set piece and tucked the shot perfectly inside the upper-left corner of the net to give the Twos the 2-1 lead. Just a quick few minutes later, Loic Mesanvi and Diogo Pacheco entered the match as substitutes and immediately brought impact on the pitch. Mesanvi connected a throw-in pass from Devin Padelford right at the St. Louis endline before quickly passing it off to Pacheco, who finished off the chance and scored the third and final goal of the night in the 90th minute.
With the win, MNUFC2 remains unbeaten and in first place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference regular-season action with a 2-0-0 record (W-L-D) and six points.
MNUFC2 next travels to face LA Galaxy II at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. CT, with broadcast information to be announced in the coming days.
GOALS
0-1 STL – Akil Watts, assisted by John Klein (5’)
1-1 MIN – Juan Mosquera (66’)
2-1 MIN – Cameron Dunbar (85’)
3-1 MIN – Diogo Pacheco, assisted by Loic Mesanvi (90’)
DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Caution, MIN – Britton Fischer (4’)
Caution, STL – Josh Maher (16’)
Caution, STL – Wan Kuzain (55’)
Ejection, STL – Josh Maher (64’)
Caution, MIN – Joseph Rosales (69’)
Caution, MIN – Emmanuel Iwe (69’)
Caution, MIN – Juan Mosquera (75’)
Caution, STL – Max Schneider (84’)
Caution, STL – AJ Palazzolo (87’)
Caution, MIN – Devin Padelford (90’+2’)
NOTABLE STATS
6-2 – MNUFC2 out-shot St. Louis CITY2 6-2 in the second half; all of those recorded shots were on target
4 – Goalkeeper Fred Emmings made four key saves against CITY2, including a penalty-kick save
4 – Cameron Dunbar led the Twos with four shots on the night, his only on-target was the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through March 24)
Goals – Diogo Pacheco (3)
Assists – Loic Mesanvi (2)
Saves – Fred Emmings (7)
Wins – Fred Emmings (2)
Shutouts – Fred Emmings (1)
