NASL Minnesota United FC

Premier League's AFC Bournemouth Tops Minnesota United in International Friendly

Published on July 20, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn.- AFC Bournemouth got a hot and humid welcome to the Twin Cities Wednesday night when the Premier League side kicked off against against Minnesota United at NSC Stadium. In a match where both teams had their chances, Bournemouth finished them, tallying four goals and a conceding none in their final match of their preseason tour in the United States. A midweek friendly against a Premier League side, it was largely a training match for the Loons, but Head Coach Carl Craig will be disappointed in seeing the same errors that have cost the club points through the Spring Season and early this Fall Season in North American Soccer League play.

"It's frustrating, I don't want to throw the baby out of the bathwater because we don't play in the Premier League, but at the same time it's the unforced errors that I talked about at the start of the year, it's the unforced errors that I spoke about at the end of the Spring and once again it's unforced errors which have put us in the position that we're in tonight, so disappointing," said Craig.

The match started fast for the visitors, testing the United backline on an individual basis, dribbling at United defenders and forcing tackles in dangerous positions in the final third. However, it was the Loons that would get a glimpse of the net first in the 15th minute of play.

United pressed high and forced a turnover in the Bournemouth half, with Daniel Mendes and Jack Blake connecting and pushing the ball to the middle of the pitch to Ismaila Jome in his first ever start as a Loon. Jome took a glance up, saw no defenders stepping, and after taking a touch knocked a shot with his left foot bound for the upper-left corner of the net. Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc held his ground well and collected for the Cherries, denying United it's first chance of the night.

The Blake-Jome connection didn't stop there. In the 22nd minute, Blake knocked a ball over the top to Jome running in behind the Bournemouth defenders. Jome settled the ball well and cut toward the top of the box, wrong-footing his defender and opening up space. Jome connected with his right foot and delivered a nicely lofted ball that beat Boruc only to be denied by the woodwork.

"It was good just getting out there and being able to play a good amount of minutes," said Jome. "I thought it was going in, just unlucky, a couple of inches. It would have been wild if it did. I've just been working hard in training just waiting for my opportunity."

"Outstanding, the kid works his socks off, he's in early every day for extra touches," said Craig. "It's ironic though, that's the best move of the game to that point and we are thinking about that when they've done us straight on the other side."

With momentum going United's way, Bournemouth stormed up the pitch and created a chance of their own, but solid defense from the United back four forced a difficult shot that deflected out for a Bournemouth corner. The Cherries played the ball short to Charlie Daniels with plenty of space to deliver a cross. Daniels picked his pass beautifully, playing the ball to the back post to a wide open Callum Wilson who had time to settle and pick his corner, knocking in the first goal of the match past Sammy Ndjock in the 24th minute.

Disaster for Ndjock two minutes later as the game began to settle down. Ndjock came off his line and grabbed a ball that was well away from any attacker, then motioned for his teammates to push up the pitch. Standing right of the net, Ndjock began to throw the ball, but changed his mind mid-throw. The result was calamitous. The ball slipped out of Ndjock's hand and into the back of the net, giving Bournemouth an early 2-0 lead.

"Bournemouth are an excellent team, before the match we knew that, going into it was going to be a tough task," said United midfielder Jack Blake. "I think that we started well and we had our opportunities, you know it was just unfortunate after the first goal and once we lose a couple of goals we start to lose that momentum and it kind of hits us hard really. But I think it's good that we can play against a Premier League standard."

Bournemouth would tally once more before half, finding the back of the net in the 39th minute. Harry Arter received the ball at the top of the box and hit a blistering shot past the fingertips of Ndjock. The ball deflected off the post and landed immediately at the feet of Wilson, who was unmarked and able to slot it past Ndjock into the top of the net for his second goal of the night and Bournemouth's third.

United would create a chance of their own prior to heading into the tunnel at half time, with Tiago Calvano finding Christian Ramirez in stride. Ramirez did well to settle the ball in front of him, and then knocked a hard shot just wide of net. It was one of just two shots for Ramirez in the first half, with United creating several opportunities, but unable to find the back of the net.

"[United is] a well-organized team, you can see that they've been well coached, made it difficult for us, it was only until we scored the first couple of goals really that we got control of the game," said Bournemouth Head Coach Eddie Howe. "So full credit to them I hope they do very well this year."

Despite a difficult time getting on the scoring sheet for the Loons, the night wasn't a total loss for United. A rowdy crowd of 8,333 filled the stadium to cheer on their hometown club against a Premier League side.

"The crowd were great, the crowd were outstanding. Really wonderful because 3-0 down in a friendly game for us to get back three goals against a team of their caliber would be very difficult, but the support from the stands was absolutely outstanding, and I hope our lads are mindful of the people that come out week in and week out and show their support for us because that's an additional fee tonight for a friendly game and the place was packed," said Craig. "They were right behind us and I hope our guys appreciate that."

Both clubs came out fresh for the second half, essentially fielding new teams, with only Aaron Pitchkolan and Tiago Calvano remaining on the pitch for United. Newly introduced to the match, Jamie Watson, Lance Laing and J.C. Banks made their presence felt early, dribbling into the center of the pitch and creating half-chances at the top of the box. Laing's shot in the 53rd was the best of the three, with Laing finding time on his left boot and knocking a blistering shot toward the upper 90 that was saved by the fingertips of Adam Federici.

With both teams playing hard and looking to capitalize on the other's mistake, a hard tackle from Damion Lowe on Max Gradel forced the center official into a difficult decision in the 79th minute. Gradel got to his feet upset with the tackle and went straight at Lowe, who retaliated. After a short scuffle, the two were separated and Lowe and Gradel were sent off.

Two minutes later, Laing struck again, this time dribbling through the heart of the Bournemouth defense and into the box. Laing split two defenders with a poke of his two and knocked a hard shot low toward the corner of the net that Federici clumsily blocked. The ball bounced dangerously for a bit before Federici gobbled it up.

Bournemouth scored their fourth and final goal in the 86th minute off a turnover in the final third by Minnesota United. Jeb Brovsky struggled to settle a pass that bounced over his outstretched foot straight to the feet of Lewis Grabban, who took one touch and tucked it away into the bottom corner of the net and Steward Ceus dove the wrong direction and the ball flipped over his foot and into the back of the net.

"Steward, I thought he's done well, I'm disappointed he didn't have a clean sheet because you cannot blame him for the goal," said Craig. "Lance I thought had some good moments as a left back, particularly when Tiago [Calvano] was out there, coached him and helped him through. Ibson when he's got a little bit of time and space looks special. So those things were very positive."

A fantastic week of soccer in Minnesota continues this Saturday when the Loons host the final match of a three-game home stretch this Saturday at NSC Stadium. United kicks off against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at 7 p.m. CDT this Saturday, find tickets today at mnunitedfc.com/tickets.

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 20, 2016


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