Thunder Earns Second Straight Win Against Seattle 3-1

August 10, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (August 10, 2008)- The Minnesota Thunder won their second straight win against the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Sunday night. The Thunder earned another three points off Seattle, after beating Charleston three days earlier 2-1. The Thunder had previously defeated the Sounders on July 24 in a battle of a game.

The Thunder came out playing some of the best soccer they have all season. In the 8th minute Luchi Gonzalez sent a perfect ball to Alen Marcina who slipped behind the defense and made a successful run. Marcina collected the ball but was cut off by the defense, leading to a Thunder corner kick.

In the 15th minute, the Sounders took advantage of their first offensive attack. Hugo Alcarez Cuellar sent a ball across to Andre Schmid who passed in front of the goal over to Jason Cascio who found the back of the net.

In the 17th minute, the Thunder almost got on the board. Stephen deRoux sent a ball to Melvin Tarley who headed the ball on net. Taylor Graham saved the ball on the line, saving the Sounders from a potential Thunder goal.

In the 27th minute, the Thunder got their first goal of the game. Tighe Dombrowski sent a long ball to Tarley who beat the Seattle goalkeeper and scored for the Thunder. The Thunder went into the half tied with Seattle, and still on adrenaline from their first goal.

In the second half, both teams came out looking to finish the game with a win under their belts. In the 51st minute, Brian Kallman looked to relive his July 24th Seattle game glory by scoring a winning goal. Ricardo Sanchez sent a corner kick to Kallman, whose header went just wide of the goal.

In the 56th minute, the Thunder pulled ahead. Sanchez took a free kick from 30 yards out that hit the far post. Kallman was there to save the ball on the far line and send it back in to Sanchez who headed the ball over Seattle goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, making the score 2-1. It was a perfect play from Kallman to Sanchez, who had been doing a solid job of pressuring the offensive third.

Minnesota dominated the second half, not letting Seattle more than two opportunities on net. In the 72nd minute Gonzalez saved the ball on the Seattle goal line and sent in a beautiful ball to Melvin who beat two Sounder defenders and shot just high of the Seattle goal.

In the 76th minute Sanchez got his second goal of the match, securing a Thunder win. Andres Arango got fouled from 40 yards out, Sanchez set up to take the free kick, bending the ball into the net for a beautiful goal.

The Thunder secured their second straight home win against the Seattle Sounders, finishing the game 3-1. The Thunder go on the road for the first time since July 3 to play the Rochester Rhinos and then return home to play the Carolina Railhawks on August 22 at 7:05pm.



USL First Division Stories from August 10, 2008


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