Minnesota United FC went up twice in this game with goals by Ramirez and Speas, but two mistakes led to two Ottawa goals and Minnesota leaves Ottawa with only a point.
Minnesota came out in their familiar 4-2-3-1, with Calvano at centerback next to Brent Kallman in place of Lowe who was out with a red card suspension. On the other side Ottawa looked very different this year, with few of their Fall season winning side still with the team after much turnover during the offseason.
1st Half
For much of the first half, Ottawa struggled to get the ball out of their third. Vicentini and Cruz made early interceptions in the attacking third that Minnesota was unable to convert. The Minnesota defense was able to shut down the passing lanes and Ottawa was unable to find their players in the box. For Minnesota, the tough artificial turf caused problems for Minnesota all game as the players had to react to bounces that played much differently than a grass pitch would.
The first goal found Minnesota United FC leading scorer Christian Ramirez open on the far post off a corner. Ramirez often sets up on the far corner on kicks, looking for the second touch after someone in the scrum in front of goal tips it his way. Jeb Brovsky got a head on the ball, flicking it on to Ramirez, who knocked it home with his knee.
In the final minutes of the first half, Ottawa was finally able to get the ball into the box, but between Ndjock grabbing a dangerous cross and the back four standing strong, Ottawa never really threatened. The half ended with Ndjock making a diving save on dangerous free kick to preserve the one goal lead.
2nd Half
Minnesota United came out and dominated the start of the second game, but it would be Ottawa with the first real chance. A cross came across the box and found former Loon Jonny Steele on the far side. Steele, looking to even the score, instead sent the ball over the top bar.
The 394 minutes of shutout soccer for Minnesota came to an end soon after as a cross carromed off Brovsky’s arm and into the net. After the goal, Ottawa had new life, holding possession for longer and winning more 50/50 balls.
Minnesota’s superior attack was able to put the Loons ahead again. Venegas had a long cross into the box that Ben Speas was able to knock into the back of the net for his 3rd goal of the season.
A defensive substitution of Aaron Pitchkolan for Laing would not be enough to keep the lead, as a Ndjock error would give Ottawa a second goal. Pinho missed his clearance kick, Ndjock misjudged the bounce, and Ottawa subsitute De Jong put it in the net for Ottawa.
Tempers flared late as players came in late and a couple of plays ended with pushing and shoving. When the dust finally settled, Minnesota left Ottawa with one point and a sense of a missed opportunities.
Lineups
Minnesota United FC
33 SAMMY NDJOCK
5 TIAGO CALVANO
2 JUSTIN DAVIS
22 KEVIN VENEGAS
6 BRENT KALLMAN
17 LANCE LAING
77 JULIANO VICENTINI
3 JEB BROVSKY
10 BEN SPEAS
8 DANNY CRUZ
21 CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ
Substitutions
ANOR for CRUZ
PINHO for SPEAS
PITCHKOLAN for LAING
Ottawa Fury
1 ROMUALD PEISER
77 TIMBÓ
2 RICH BALCHAN
14 ONUA OBASI
33 RAFAEL ALVES
25 LANCE ROZEBOOM
8 JAMES BAILEY
22 JONNY STEELE
7 PAULO JÚNIOR
23 IDAN VERED
17 CARL HAWORTH
Substitutions
De JONG for VERED
OLIVERA for BAILEY
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