Akil Watts put home CITY2’s only goal of the game
It was a hard-fought match, but CITY2 came up short in their second match of the season. The action began with a CITY2 turnover deep in their defensive half, leading to a dangerous Minnesota United FC 2 cross into the box ultimately headed away by the home side.
CITY2 responded just a few minutes later with an aggressive push downfield of their own, launching a beautiful ball deep into Minnesota’s half played by midfielder John Klein, who was then fouled inside the box. Although CITY2 missed the resulting penalty kick, Minnesota’s goalkeeper deflected the ball out of bounds, giving CITY2 a corner kick. Midfielder Akil Watts headed in the ensuing cross from midfielder John Klein to put CITY2 up 1-0 in just the 5th minute.
CITY2 continued hounding Minnesota players as the half progressed, keeping Minnesota largely in their own half. After playing a breakout pass in the 33rd minute, Klein maneuvered past Minnesota defenders and into the box, but a strong recovery from the opposing side thwarted the offensive chance. Just a couple minutes later, a CITY2 cross pinballed its way to midfield after ricocheting off Minnesota defenders, setting up a breakaway for the opposing side.
As halftime approached, Minnesota ratcheted up their offensive pressure. Leaking deeper into CITY2’s half with each possession, Minnesota began sending shots towards the goal from outside the box, but none of them got home. Goalkeeper Ben Lundt, in addition to solid play from the backline, stiffened up in stoppage time to keep the home side ahead heading into the break.
After building up an attack deep in CITY2’s half coming out of the break, the opposition sent a ball on target that catapulted into the air after hitting a group of players in front of the net before Lundt ultimately saved it. Minnesota created another dangerous chance a few minutes later after sneaking behind CITY2’s backline, but the opposing side’s close-range shot trickled just wide to keep CITY2 in the lead.
The game changed in the 65th minute when CITY2 defender Josh Mayer received his second yellow card of the match, setting up a Minnesota free kick from just outside the penalty area. The opposing team’s set piece missed high and banged off the crossbar, but the ball rebounded back in front of the goal, allowing Minnesota forward Juan Mosquera to strike the equalizer.
Following the goal, the game became a back-and-forth affair for much of the half. Minnesota broke the tie in the 85th minute when midfielder Cameron Dunbar scored a free kick, and the opposing side added to their lead in the 90th minute when forward Diogo Pacheco tapped in a loose ball in front of the net.
UP NEXT
Capping off their three-game homestand, CITY2 is back in action against Houston Dynamo 2 at CITYPARK on Friday, April 7.
STARTING LINEUP
Ben Lundt, Fritz Volmar, Josh Maher, Michael Wentzel, Nolan Mcguire (Ryley Gibbs 87’), Max Schneider, Akil Watts (AJ Palazollo 71’), Célio Pompeu (Sergio Rivas 70’), John Klein, Wan Kuzain, Dida Armstrong (Aziel Jackson 46’)
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED:
Larsen Hackworth, Eric Walker, Christian Olivares
GOALS
STL: Akil Watts – 5'
MIN: Juan Mosquera – 66'
MIN: Cameron Dunbar – 85'
MIN: Diogo Pacheco – 90'
