Torres Secures Thunder's Spot in League Championship Game

Published on September 14, 2003 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Sunday, September 14, 2003) – A second half goal by Minnesota Thunder forward Johnny Torres elevated the Thunder past Seattle 1-0 Sunday afternoon in the second leg of the two-game, total goals A-League Western Conference Final.

Minnesota earned a 2-0 series victory over Seattle to earn its fourth trip to the championship game in six years and claim its first Western Conference title since 2000.

The Thunder will play Saturday at the Charleston Battery, who defeated the Rochester Rhinos 1-0 Sunday in the Eastern Conference Final. To win its first A-League Championship since 1999, the Thunder will need to win on the road, where the team is 10-5-1 overall this season, one of the best road records in the league.

"Going back to the championship game is a testament to how hard this team worked," said defender Steve Shak, who scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute of the Thunder's 1-0 win over the Sounders on Friday. "The boys stuck together.

Minnesota put the match and the series out of reach in the 59th minute when Torres received a circus pass over the Sounders defense from Johnny Menyongar. Torres bolted through the defense to retrieve the pass and immediately blasted a powerful shot into the upper right corner surprising Seattle goalkeeper Rich Cullen. The scoring opportunity was setup by a combination of passes initiated by midfielders Amos Magee and Marco Ferruzzi along the right sideline.

"I'm happy to be going to the final and proud to play for a great organization like the Thunder," said Torres, who was battling a sore throat and cough.

The A-League championship match will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 (kickoff 6 p.m. CT). The match will be televised nationally on Fox Sports World. Minnesota won its loan A-League Championship in 1999. Although Charleston has not won the A-League title, the Battery claimed a championship at the third division level in 1996. The Thunder has advanced to five championship games.

"I think we have a good chance to win, especially if we can have another shutout," Shak said. "We lost to both teams (Charleston and Rochester) earlier this season, and what better way to get even than in the final.

The Thunder appeared content to remain defensive minded throughout the first half as they thwarted off a Sounders team eager to score an early goal. In the final minutes of the half Magee fueled a Minnesota offensive attack with some timely runs along the right flank, applying continued pressure on Cullen.

The Thunder trail the all-time head-to-head matchup with Charleston 2-3-0. On Aug. 30, Minnesota was defeated on the road by Charleston 3-0.

GAME NOTES:

The victory was the first time in nine matches that the home team had won in the Thunder-Sounders series.

Midfielder Kevin Anderson was cut in his mouth in a collision in the 83rd minute and needed help walking off the field. Zafer Kilickan replaced Anderson for the final minutes of the match.

Earlier this week a pair of Thunder players received All A-League honors. Midfielder Marco Ferruzzi was named to the All A-League First Team while defender Steve Shak earned Second Team honors.

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