Minnesota Migration: A weekly recap of Minnesotans in the pros.
Eric Miller returns to the starting line-up for the Colorado Rapids, Teal Bunbury earns his first assist of the season, and Mukwelle Akale scores in the Copa Del Rey.
With Bobby Burling out after undergoing a knee surgery, Eric Miller played two full games this past week for the Colorado Rapids. In the Rapids Open Cup game against the Colorado Spring Switchbacks, Miller started for the first time since April 23rd and helped Colorado to their 1-0 victory.
In MLS action, Miller was once again in the center of the defense in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. Miller did extremely well possessing the ball and finished with only three incomplete passes. Defensively he had three clearances and five recoveries. He could have done more to stop the service from David Accam that lead to the Fire’s goal, but most of the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of his teammates in the box.
Teal Bunbury was unable to make an appearance in the New England Revolution’s narrow 1-0 victory over the Carolina RailHawks in their Open Cup game, but he did earn the start against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Overall, the 74 minutes he put in wasn’t Bunbury’s best performance. He didn’t get a single shot on goal and his passing was a bit off, but he did get the assist on Kaylen Rowe’s game-winning goal in the 55th minute and that should do wonders for his confidence. After the Revolution won the ball on the right side line in the Whitecaps defensive third, Bunbury sent in a strong low cross towards the top of the box where Rowe one-timed it near post to make it 2-1.
In Spain, Villarreal Juvenil A played a home and away series with Real Madrid in the semifinal of the Copa Del Rey. After a goalless draw in the first leg, Mukwelle Akale gave Villareal the advantage after chipping the keeper in the 16th minute. However, Madrid responded almost immediately to level the score and give their team a much needed away goal. Villareal took the lead again in the second half and looked to have the game all tied up after they gained a man advantage in the 72nd minute. But in the 94th minute Real Madrid pounced on a rebound after Villareal’s keeper failed to deal with a shot from 35 yard out. Real Madrid advanced to the final on away goals.
The Boston Breakers suffered another defeat this weekend, falling 3-0 to the Chicago Red Stars. Kassey Kallman played yet another full 90 for the Breakers and was unfortunately involved in all three of the Red Stars goals. In the 3rd minute Sofia Huerta beat Kallman to a ball and redirected it into the goal. The second goal came two minutes after the second half started after a Huerta shrugged off a challenge from Kallman and buried a shot far post. Chicago’s third goal came in the 62nd minute when defender Casey Short stretched her leg out to barely get a touch to a cross before Kallman. The bad form continues for Boston and at some point there needs to be a change whether in tactics or personnel. Hopefully this performance doesn’t lead to the end of Kallman’s streak of playing every minute for the Breakers since joining in 2015.
Both Calum Mallace and Tyler David did not make the bench for their respective sides, while newly signed Cat Parkhill took her spot on the bench as Kansas City FC’s back-up keeper.
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