Thunder Advance to Second Round in 4-1 Win Over St. Louis

June 11, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


Thunder hosts Godfrey Tenoff and the Cleveland Internationals July 24th at 6pm

BLAINE, Minn. (June 10, 2008)- The Minnesota Thunder clinched their first win of the U.S. Open Cup against top Premier Development League team the St. Louis Lions. After being up by only one at half, the Thunder played an outstanding second half to secure a solid win they needed to advance.

The Thunder started the play off well in the first half, with a dangerous shot by Luchi Gonzalez in the 13th minute. Gonzalez shot a rocket that hit the crossbar just inches away from the goal. Gonzalez had another opportunity in the 38th minute when he received a ball from Brian Kallman and started on a breakaway. Gonzalez was cut off at a dangerous angle by the Lions defense and was fouled for a Thunder free kick.

The Thunder finally got their goal into stoppage time of the first half. Stephen deRoux, who was playing outside midfield in tonight's game, had a great touch down the line and crossed it over to leading scorer, Melvin Tarley. Tarley finished it beautifully, securing a 1-0 lead going into the first half.

The Thunder came out with a vengeance in the second half. Starting the scoring off in the second half was Ricardo Sanchez with the goal of the game. Kallman sent a perfectly placed ball to Sanchez who was on the left endline. Sanchez hit the ball out of the air with his left foot, and placing it perfectly. The shot defied the laws of physics and curled into the back side netting. The Thunder was up 2-0 and still had a lot more energy left.

The Thunder defense had another high-quality performance throughout the game. Andres Arango, who was earning his second start with the Thunder, cleared a few key dangerous opportunities that could have been Lion goals if he hadn't have been there. Platter was not tested much in tonight's match, only seeing about three shots on goal. The Lions only goal came in the 79th minute when leading scorer of the Lions Tommy Heinemann received a ball from Kyle Patterson that went just past Platter's fingers into the net. The goal caught the Thunder defense off guard, but it wasn't enough to cost them the game.

Tarley got his second goal of the match, fifth of the season, in the 80th minute. Dayton O'Brien, who had just substituted in for the Thunder, went streaking down the left flank, sending a perfect ball to an onrushing Tarley. Tarley got in front of his defender and volleys it into the goal. It was a perfect set of goals for Tarley and Sanchez, who were leading the team in offense tonight.

The Thunder ended the scoring in the 89th minute with a goal from striker, Aaron Paye. O'Brien, earning his second assist of the match, sent a ball to Paye who dribbled a few Lion defenders plus the goalkeeper to lot the ball into the back of the net. The whistle blew just minutes later and the Thunder had advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The Thunder has two weeks before their first game of the Open Cup, where they will host the Cleveland Internationals. Until then, they will host the Atlanta Silverbacks, with former Thunder player Ansu Toure on June 14 at 6pm. Because of the stadium construction, home games will continue to be played on the exhibition field (U2) at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Starting Lineups:

Minnesota: Platter; Kallman, Taylor, Arango, Friedland; Greenfield, Barron (O'Brien, Dan 83), Sanchez (Gibson 74), deRoux (O'Brien, Dayon 78); Gonzalez (Paye 79), Tarley.

St. Louis: Sailor; Gelven, Mueller, Merrick, Gregory (Dyson 70); Angus, Clayes, Patterson, Speiss (Plow 76); Holmes, Heinemann.

Game Summary:

Scoring Summary:

MIN: Tarley 45 (deRoux)

MIN: Sanchez 57 (Kallman)

STL: Heinemann 79 (Patterson)

MIN: Tarley 80 (O'Brien, Dayton)

MIN: Paye 89 (O'Brien, Dayton)

Game Statistics:

Minnesota: Shots 15, Fouls 5, Offside 5, Corners 6.

St. Louis: Shots 7, Fouls 3, Offside 2, Corners 7.

Goalkeeper Statistics:

Platter (Minnesota): Shots faced 7, Saves 4, Goals allowed 3.

Sailor (St. Louis): Shots faced 3, Saves 2, Goals allowed 1.

Cautions:

STL: Gelvin 45

STL: Merrick 45

STL: Heinemann 70

MIN: O'Brien, Dan 88



USL First Division Stories from June 11, 2008


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