Thunder Fight to the End in 1-1 Atlanta Draw

Published on June 14, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - The Minnesota Thunder tied the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-1 Saturday night in a double header with the Minnesota Lightning. The Thunder had the lead up until the 86th minute when there was breakdown of communication in the Thunder defense. The Thunder moves to 4-4-3 and goes on to play the Charleston Battery on Friday, June 20.

The Thunder goal came in the 31st minute, off a beautiful set piece by Ricardo Sanchez. After a foul outside the box, Sanchez sent a perfect ball and found the head of Kevin Friedland who sent a perfect header into the back of the net.

"[Free kicks] are something the team's been working on with Ricardo and I. I just lost my defender and he played a great ball in and I got a diving header on it," said Friedland, who earned his first goal of the season.

The Thunder kept the pressure up in the second half, getting off six solid shots. In the 42nd minute, Jeremiah Bass hit a great ball that was rebounded by Aaron Paye, but hit the post and went out of bounds. Luchi Gonzalez played well for the Thunder, mixing it up in the midfield and providing for many good offensive opportunities.

Stephen deRoux was another stand-out midfielder for the Thunder, playing the ball well down the sideline and attempting some solid crosses. In the 67th minute, deRoux dribbled down Atlanta's half of the field and passed to Freddy Moojen who got caught up with the goalkeeper and couldn't get a good shot off.

It wasn't until the last five minutes of the game that both teams starting playing their hardest. Nic Platter had three key saves in the second half that kept the Silverbacks from getting ahead. In the 84th minute, the Silverbacks broke through the Thunder defense. Blake Camp, who had just substituted in for the Silverbacks, got a goal off a Thunder deflection.

The Silverbacks were hungry for the win after their tying goal in the 84th. In the 89th, Camp took a free kick that just barely hit the side post and out of bounds. It was a close call for the Thunder who needed to desperately step up on defense.

The Thunder got their last chance in the 90th minute. Moojen shot from just outside the 18-yard box and hit it just over the crossbar. Moojen's shot was perfectly placed, but was hit out by Silverback keeper Felipe Quintero.

"I think we started off the first half really well. I think as the game progressed and Atlanta got desperate they put us under a lot of pressure and ended up getting the goal off a deflection," said Friedland.

The Thunder go on the road the next few regular season games, first to Charleston on June 20. The game will be live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7:05pm. The Thunder returns home for Open Cup action on June 24th to host the Cleveland City Stars at 6pm.

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USL First Division Stories from June 14, 2008


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