Minnesota knew they had to play a perfect game to beat the Dallas Burn. In many ways this was a unique game for the Thunder; while they have played MLS teams in the past, usually it was second stringers during exhibition matches. This game counted for the U.S. Open Cup, and Dallas was taking it seriously.
Despite its success in scoring, Minnesota coach Buzz Lagos decided to bow to the superior skills of Dallas by changing its lineup to a 4-5-1, using their single striker for counter-attacks, attempting a bunker defense, to keep Dallas outside of the penalty area, and take their offensive chances when they could.
First Half
Playing for counter-attacks is never a pretty strategy, but one that can be effective. The idea was for Dallas to get into such an offensive mindset that they lax in defense, and get caught unaware. The concept seemed sound, with Minnesota having a few chances at counter-attacks, but no sustained offense, and Dallas, as planned, being regulated to the midfield.
Then, at the 23rd minute, the concept of a perfect game for Minnesota went hideously awry. Morgan Zeba, known for his temper, was called for a Red Card ejection in the 23rd minute, after stepping on Paul Broome, who was slide-tackling Zeba on the near touchline, dead-center of the field. Zeba, who was cleated in the knee a few minutes, earlier, is known for his retaliation, but after viewing replays, there is some dispute if the action was intentional. But, seeing a gash that later required 20 stitches, a red card was issued (for more discussion on this topic, please go to http://www.dansoccerzone.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000157.html).
Following the ejection, if Minnesota planned to change any tactics later in the game, the loss of Zeba (now causing the Thunder to be short-handed for the remainder of the game) made this all but impossible. Minnesota plugged away at their opening strategy, but in the 36th minute, Jason Kreis, now able to penetrate the penalty area, picked up a ball from Chad Deering in the center of the penalty area and one-timed it to left side of the goal
Second Half
Minnesota, playing short-handed, opted to play very methodical to avoid the extra running that occurs when your opponent always has an extra player. The Thunder had some excellent runs, again off the counter attack, but were unable to capitalize, including a diving header by Gerard Lagos, and a couple of well-placed heads off corner-kicks by John Coughlin.
Minnesota started to gain an offensive rhythm, their only of the game, following the insertion of Johnny Menyongar for Gerard Lagos, and then Paul Schneider, inserting a forward for a defender, in the 75th minute.
However, the offensive spark was short-lived. While windy in the first half, in second, at the 63rd minute, it began to rain. While light at first, it became steadily heavier, with lightning starting in the background at the 74th minute. In the 78th minute, the referees halted the match at 8:45 PM.
Second Half, Part 2
The game resumed at approximately 10:00 PM, and what could have been a time for resting Minnesota remaining starters, turned out to be a loss of any rhythm they gained earlier on. Although the rain had ended, the grass was slippery, and a tired Thunder squad slipped frequently as their three pure defenders ran themselves ragged trying to squelch a Burn defense that gained free-reign in their offensive third.
In a sequence, at the 88th minute, where players were running after the ball, Dallas was able to string a series of three passes in the penalty area, culminating with a backheeled pass from Antonio Martinez to Lazo Alavanja at the right-side of the 6-yard box, for an easy shot in the left-end of the goal, for an insurmountable 2-0 lead.
MINNESOTA THUNDER 0, DALLAS BURN 2.
Goals: Jason Kreis (Chad Deering) 36, Lazo Alavanja (Antonio Martinez) 88
MINNESOTA John Swallen, Brian Winters, Eric Otto, Mike Gentile, Morgan Zeba, John Coughlin, Stoian Mladenov (Nate Winkel, 67), John Sylvester (Paul Schneider, 76), Aaron Leventhal, Don Gramenz, Gerard Lagos (John Menyongar, 63).
DALLAS Matt Jordan, Jorge Rodriguez, Eric Dade, Ricardo Iribarren (Richard Farrer, 46), Mark Santel, Oscar Pareja, Lazo Alavanja, Paul Broome (Antonio Martinez, 29), Chad Deering, Jason Kreis, Bobby Rhine (Ted Eck, 73).
SHOTS Minnesota 9, Dallas 11
SAVES Swallen (MIN) 6, Jordan (DAL) 3
FOULS Minnesota 16, Dallas 14
OFFSIDES Minnesota 0, Dallas 1
CORNER KICKS Minnesota 4, Dallas 7
CAUTIONS Alavanja (DAL) 7, Iribarren (DAL) 40, Coughlin (MIN) 41
EJECTIONS Zeba (MIN) 23
ATTENDANCE 3,110
OFFICIALS Terry Vaughn, Sia Rahimi, Mishaun Ahmad, Elias Bazakos, Tony Vasoli.
