A busy Memorial Day weekend started separating teams in the standings as Minneapolis City ended its three game homestand with only a point to show, Dakota Fusion remained the lone undefeated team in the conference, and Duluth grabbed its first win against a hapless La Crosse Aris side.

 

Minneapolis City SC 1, Med City FC 2
May 24, 2017
Edor Nelson Field (Minneapolis)

Med City needed a little over a minute, early in the game, to take all three points off the Crows. The home side was able to control the ball for the majority of the first few minutes, but Med City was quick on the counterattack. In the 16th minute, Matios Pazos Dumic found himself with the ball on the edge of the penalty area and curled it into the top right corner for the first goal of the game. Minneapolis City gave the ball up almost immediately after the restart and the Medics’ quick counter was on again. Jake Turnbull and Dion Dozzell linked up for a give-and-go as Turnbull went over goalkeeper Matt Elder’s shoulder and hit the ceiling of the net. The Crows got one back less than 10 minutes later when free kick wizard Martin Browne Jr. lashed the ball into the box from about 30 yards out. Tim Wills got his head on the ball and it flew past the keeper, reducing the visitors’ lead to one. Minneapolis tried its hardest to get the equalizer, but the Mayhem sat back and defended stoutly, surviving a near-goal when Abdallah Bah headed a cross off the inside of the post.

Read Kyle Eliason’s full recap here

 

Minneapolis City 2, Dakota Fusion 3
May 26, 2017
Edor Nelson Field (Minneapolis)

With just a day in between games, Minneapolis City suffered another home loss, while Dakota Fusion stayed perfect. City was dictating play early on and had a majority of chances, though a Dakota breakaway was the most dangerous of them. Nonetheless, the visitors struck first. A 28th minute corner eventually found its way to Adrian Baclawski at the top of the box. Baclawski shot low and slipped the ball in at the far post to give Fusion a lead. The Crows answered quickly, though, when Isaac Friendt intercepted a back pass near the net and found Will Kidd with a pass. Kidd made a little run and drove the ball to the far side of the net, equalizing for the hosts. In the 38th minute, Friendt was fouled on the outside of the 18 yard box, giving Martin Browne the chance at a free kick. The midfielder took it and, going through the wall, found the target to give the hosts the lead. Ten minutes after the second half began, Fusion found themselves with a 3-on-1 rush after a City mistake at midfield. Easy as you like, Akeem Smith and Isaac Kehson traded passes and Kehson smacked the ball past Elder for the equalizer. Fusion took the lead in the 71st minute when Hartrick Tarr’s improbable shot (or maybe cross) from near the corner curled past a surprised Matt Elder. Dakota was content to park the bus from then on out, turning away multiple City chances and securing a third victory in as many tries.

Read Kyle Eliason’s full recap here

Up next:
Minneapolis City SC at Des Moines Menace (Friendly), June 3

 

Minnesota TwinStars 1, Sioux Falls Thunder 1
May 27, 2017
Minnetonka High School Stadium (Minnetonka, Minn.)

Two of the conference’s winless teams remained that way as Saturday evening’s game ended in a draw. TwinStars were in control of possession early on, but both teams earned chances as attacking was on the menu for the game. The hosts drew first blood in the 22nd minute when Ethan Pitre’s corner was worked to Karim Darbaki who slotted home for the lead. Following the goal, both teams had near misses from set piece opportunities and TwinStars closed out the half with strong offensive play. That trend continued into the second. Both teams launched counterattacks but came up with nothing until the 72nd minute, when Michael Haight found a way through for the South Dakotans. The visitors were at an advantage for the last few minutes when Cyrus McClain was sent off after seeing his second yellow of the evening, but neither team could find the back of the net and had to share the points at the end.

Up next:
Sioux Falls Thunder vs. La Crosse Aris FC, May 30
Minnesota TwinStars vs. La Crosse Aris FC, May 31

 

La Crosse Aris FC 0, Duluth FC 4
May 27, 2017
Viterbo Sports Complex (La Crosse, Wis.)

Duluth notched its first win of the 2017 campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of La Crosse Aris on Saturday. The hosts were unable to get anything going but bookings, picking up several yellow cards in the early going. Near to halftime, Duluth opened the scoring with a free kick just outside the box that may have taken a deflection and led to confusion about who actually scored. Joe Watt doubled the BlueGreens’ lead in the 56th minute, and a third goal came from Kyle Farrar about 15 minutes later. The visitors poured on the pressure as steadily as the rain soaking the pitch, and 65th minute sub Tom Corcoran added the fourth and final goal in stoppage time to send the BlueGreens home happy.

Up next:
La Crosse Aris FC at Sioux Falls Thunder, May 30
Duluth FC at Sioux Falls Thunder, June 3

 

VSLT FC 1, Med City FC 1
May 27, 2017
James Griffin Stadium (St. Paul)

Med City traveled to the Twin Cities for the second time in three days, this time to play a close one with VSLT in St. Paul. The hosts had the early chances as Med City picked up a pair of first half yellows. The game evened out closer to halftime with both teams forcing the other’s keeper into action. The first half ended scoreless, but VSLT struck a minute into the second with Kapaw Htoo’s first goal of the season. Med City continued to rack up yellow cards throughout the second half, but it was a penalty committed by VSLT that saved the game for the Mayhem in the 92nd minute. Claudio Rivadeneira converted from the spot and earned his team a point on the road.

Up next:
VSLT at La Crosse Aris FC, June 3
Med City FC vs. Minnesota TwinStars, June 7

 

NPSL North standings

Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GD	Points	Possible
Dakota Fusion	3	3	0	0	+5	9	42
Med City	4	2	1	1	+4	7	37
Duluth	3	1	2	0	+4	5	38
VSLT	3	1	1	1	+1	4	37
Minneapolis City	4	1	1	2	-1	4	34
TwinStars	3	0	2	1	-2	2	35
Sioux Falls	2	0	1	1	-1	1	37
La Crosse Aris	2	0	0	2	-8	0	36

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