Goalkeeper Eric Walker made two (2) shootout saves to help CITY2 earn an additional point
After battling with Minnesota United FC 2 to grind out a 0-0 draw, St Louis CITY2 emerged victorious in shootouts to pick up an additional point.
CITY2 brought the energy early, setting the tone with a pair of high-quality shots in the first minute of action. A Minnesota foul deep in their own third set up a prime free kick opportunity for St. Louis, but the blast off the set piece curved directly to the goalkeeper and was saved.
In the 33rd minute, Minnesota threaded a pass to an attacker who had leaked up the field and separated from CITY2’s backline, but the subsequent shot snaked wide left. Midfielder Faysal Bettache found space to send one on frame from inside the box in the 39th minute, but the away side’s goalkeeper saved the attempt.
For the ninth time this season, CITY2 kept their opponents scoreless in the first half. The home team outshot Minnesota five (5) to four (4) and kept the away side from tallying a shot on goal in the first half.
CITY2 picked up where they left off out of the break, with midfielder Wan Kuzain firing a shot on goal in the 47th minute to keep the pressure on the visitors. A few minutes later, a pass into the box snuck past Minnesota’s goalkeeper as he charged off his line to contest the entry feed, but forward Dida Armstrong’s shot after corralling the ball spun wide.
In the 71st minute, Kuzain found Bettache on a run into the box for a good look, but the shot sailed high. Minnesota put together a dangerous attack in second half stoppage time, working their way deep into CITY2 territory and sending a cross into the box, but defender Michael Wentzel stepped in front of the ball and blocked it downfield. Bettache whipped a ball on net as extra time waned, but a diving save from Minnesota’s goalkeeper preserved the scoreless draw.
After both teams netted their first attempts in the ensuing shootouts, goalkeeper Eric Walker made a sensational diving save to stop Minnesota’s second try. Both sides made their next two kicks before Minnesota came up with a save to bring the teams even once more. Walker made another impressive save on Minnesota’s subsequent attempt, which midfielder Ezra Armstrong followed up by beating the away side’s goalkeeper to seal the 4-3 shootout victory for CITY2.
NOTES
-Walker picked up his first clean sheet of the season
-CITY2 secured its third clean sheet of the season
-CITY2 picked up its fifth shootout victory of the season, the highest mark in MLS NEXT Pro this season
-Bettache led all players with six (6) shots in the contest
UP NEXT
CITY2 will remain in town for a bout with Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday, July 2.
STARTING LINEUP
Eric Walker, Sergio Rivas (Nolan McGuire 86’), Michael Wentzel ©, Fritz Volmar, Ezra Armstrong, AJ Palazzolo (Larsen Hackworth 63’), Max Schneider, Dida Armstrong (Owen O’Malley 73’), Wan Kuzain (Stanislav Koval 86’), Faysal Bettache, Ryley Gibbs (John Klein 45’)
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED:
Nathan Beck, Josh Maher
