Knowing the recent history of these two teams, there was little hope in expecting pretty soccer. Wešre talking recent history, as in, the last week. The US Pro-40, playing its usual anemic squad, due to the MLS not fortifying the team, of one substitute, was also playing their fourth game in seven days. Even more brutal, this was Minnesotašs third match in four days.
The game could be played out like this: youth (The Pro 40šs average age is under 23) versus depth.
Fortunately, for both teams, the weather was perfect: upper seventies, a light breeze, and for only the second time for Minnesota, no precipitation during the game.
First Half
Youth has its energy, and the US Pro 40 were running circles around the obviously tired Thunder. Minnesota, while attempting to challenge, allowed the Select squad innumerable crisp passes in their defensive third. Minnesota had bunkered down, however, and did not allow any possession within the penalty area, and keeping the Pro-40 from making any serious attempt on the goal. Minnesota, opting to just boot the ball out of their third, could not sustain any offensive momentum, and held to what looked like a 20-80 possession disadvantage. Minnesotašs first sustained string of offensive thrusts came after the 30th minute, but were plagued by offsides calls, which also prevented any attempts at close-range shots on goal.
On an outside run by Morgan Zeba in the 44th minute, after turning toward the goal, was taken down by Tim Sahaydak (Miami Fusion) outside of the box for a yellow card. Stoian Maladenov, took the resulting free kick, straight across the penalty area, onto the head of Brian Winters, standing six yards in front of the left post, for the first goal of the match.
One minute later (not yet in stoppage) the US Pro-40 struck back off a corner kick, Michael Green (Kansas City) headed the ball backwards to Vicente Figueroa, also allocated to the Wizards, in front of the box, to the left of the arc. Figueroa, who was unmarked, was allowed a few steps up to the line, for an unobstructed shot on net, to the upper-right corner.
A few second later, a breakaway was punched away by John Swallen, after Figueroa managed a breakaway, leaving Minnesotašs defenders 15 yards behind him. Reminiscent of the shootout, Swallen was able to rush on Figueroa and push the ball away mid-way into the penalty area.
Second Half
Minnesotašs fatigue is still very evident, but either a burst of energy, or the Pro-40 feeling the effects of their own marathon has slowed them down as well. The crisp passing around the box has gone, but the Pro-40 was able to make more forays into the penalty area; they make a few more shots on goal, but most of the possessions are taken away by the still bunkered defense. Unlike the first half, Minnesota starts working the outside lines with greater frequency, which opens up the central defense slightly, for several chances. Possession was still in favor of the Pro-40 at a 60-40 level, until the 75th minute, when Minnesota starting adding substitutions (Mladenov left at halftime due to a collision with a teammate, and required stitches) in defense, midfield, and striker. John Coughlin, who replaced Dionysius Sebwe, added height to the central defense, a point where the Pro-40 dominated; rookie Nate Winkel relieved a tired and battered Morgan Zeba, and Gerard Lagos replaced striker Troy Schneider, who had been unable to out-race the Pro-40šs John Wilson (K.C. Wizards). Lagos, being a larger, bulkier figure, was able to control the ball with multiple defenders marking him, opening up the rest of the Thunder offense.
While Lagos made an inside run, drawing defenders, Don Gramenz worked the ball around the top-left corner of the penalty area, leaving the ball to Brian Winters, who, in almost the same placement as Vicente Figueroa's goal in the 45th minute, complete with a few steps warm-up, placed the ball in the net at nearly the same location during stoppage time.
In the final minute of stoppage time, the Pro-40 moved all their players forward, including goalkeeper, but were unable to punch in a second goal.
Final Score: Minnesota 2, US Pro-40 Select 1
MINNESOTA THUNDER 2, U.S. PRO-40 1. Goals: Brian Winters (Stoian Mladenov) 43, Brian Winters (Don Gramenz) 90; Vicente Figueroa (Michael Green) 45.
MINNESOTA John Swallen, Mark Abboud, Eric Otto, Dionysius Sebwe (John Coughlin, 72), Don Gramenz, Mike Gentile, Morgan Zeba (Nate Winkel, 77), Brian Winters, Stoian Mladenov (Aaron Leventhal, 46), John Menyongar, Paul Schneider (Gerard Lagos, 72).
U.S. PRO-40 Garth Lagerwey, Dominic Schell, Michael Green, Tim Sahaydak, John Wilson, Matt Chulis, Jeff Bilyk, Vicente Figueroa, Maurizio Rocha, Fabio Zuniga (Micah Cooks, 68), Esmundo Rodriquez.
SHOTS Minnesota 10, Pro-40 6. SAVES Swallen (MIN) 5, Lagerwey (USP) 6. FOULS Minnesota 16, Pro-40 21, OFFSIDES Minnesota 4, Pro-40 4. CORNER KICKS Minnesota 5, Pro-40 7. CAUTIONS Gramenz (MIN) 22, Sahaydak (USP) 42, Zeba (MIN) 47, Green (USP) 64, Chulis (USP) 73. EJECTIONS None. ATTENDANCE 4,019. OFFICIALS Sia Rahimi, Jeff Filipek, Tony Vasoli, Fotis Bazakos.
