NASL Minnesota United FC

United Snaps Winless Streak Earns Three Pointsat Home

Published on August 17, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. -- A clean sheet and three points made for a perfect summer's night at NSC Stadium on Wednesday. Christian Ramirez scored his league-leading 13th goal, while Ben Speas opened scoring for the evening-knocking in a shot in the 18th minute to get back on the score sheet after an injury kept him out of the starting 11 for several weeks. The win pushes United to 30 points overall in the NASL Combined Table standings, five points ahead of the fifth placed team and in contention for the playoffs.

"No one said it was going to be easy, no one said it had to be pretty, what we say is we've got to get out there and get the three points, and fair play to them," said United Head Coach Carl Craig. "Tampa is a top quality team, they have their trials and tribulations as well, but loaded with quality footballers. We have our own issues as you well know, but for us to grind it out as we did-that's tremendous."

It was a balanced and calculated start to the match for Minnesota United, biding their time, taking space and moving up the pitch. Jamie Watson and Ben Speas were involved often in the attack for United through the opening 15 minutes of play, frustrating the Rowdies by moving the ball forward with their dribbling skills at midfield. The Rowdies Juan Guerra was tasked with chasing, and after tangling legs with Speas and Watson on several occasions he was punished with the first yellow card of the match.

"We're kind of short on numbers and we put the best 11 out there that we can, and whoever that happens to be you're going to get the best out of the guys," said United captain Aaron Pitchkolan. "It's a great locker room and I'm just happy to get the points."

Speas stood over the ball for the cross from the resulting free kick near the corner flag and delivered a beautiful lobbed pass to the far post. United had put together a good routine, that had left Christian Ramirez nearly unmarked, but Ramirez miscalculated the jump and the ball was just a touch too high for him to direct it down back on net. It was the first chance of the game for either team, but the Loons wouldn't have to wait long for a breakthrough.

"We start games well, even when we lost 4-0 the other week with Miami, we had a couple of good chances before to get on the scoreboard and so we've got that in us," said Craig. "Defensively, whilst a little nervy we were pretty solid."

In the 18th minute, Speas was gifted an opportunity from Rowdies midfielder Walter Ramirez, who was pressured hard near the sideline with Watson on his back. Walter Ramirez opted to play the ball back into the center, which was a massive mistake. There stood Speas all alone and in on net. Speas made no mistake of his chance, hitting a low bending shot into the bottom of the corner as Matt Pickens stood helplessly in place. It was United with the 1-0 lead early.

"He played a bad ball, when I saw it come across I just focused on a good first touch, that sets the whole thing up," said Speas. "Once I have the first touch then I just put my foot through it and it went in."

Following the match, Craig praised the work Speas put in in the match saying, "It's quality, the thing is that it's down to positioning, if he's not doing his job he's not in position to get the goal. We've gifted teams a couple of the same things this year, we've had a couple to be fair, but Ben [Speas] he's a powerful man, he's not the tallest, but he's a little tank. He scores goals in training, but it's lovely for him to get back because he was a catalyst for us in the early part of the spring and when he went out the team kind of went to pieces."

Watson continued to create opportunities for himself, nearly getting a touch on the end of an Ismaila Jome cross in the 25th minute for the second United goal of the night. Jome carried the ball to near the corner of the penalty area and whipped a cross bending toward the far post. There, Christian Ramirez and Watson crashed hard, with Watson getting a toe on the pass, but unable to direct it in on net.

Then the Rowdies began to pile men forward looking for an equalizer. The Loons remained organized in back, and despite facing 6 first half shots, managed to keep them away from net, with just one of the Tampa Bay strikes being struck on goal. High pressure from the Rowdies meant the Loons saw less of the ball in the second twenty minutes and went into half with just 45 percent possession.

Things settled down a bit after half, with United and the Rowdies again finding balance in the attack. It was the Loons who would create the first chance of the new half, with defender Justin Davis and Ismaila connecting with great interplay at midfield. After a few passes around defenders working the ball up the pitch, Ismaila put his head down and beat a defender with his feet before taking a shot from just outside the 18-yard-box. Ismaila couldn't connect the way he would have liked, and his shot flew wide of the net.

Christian Ramirez looked to get into the scoring action in the 53rd minute after Ibson forced a turnover in the Rowdies final third. Christian Ramirez, who had been kept off the scorebooks in the previous three matches, played a one-two pass with Ibson to receive the ball unmarked a fair distance out. He took one touch before striking the ball. Looking to bend the shot into the far corner, he caught too much of his shot and it went high of the net and out of danger.

"I thought Ibson had one of his best games for us, because he showed not only-we know he can play football-but from a defensive perspective he's been a little bit careless, and tonight he was first class," said Craig. "I thought he was the springboard for us, great."

In the 55th minute, Georgi Hristov was played into space behind the United back four, only to be denied by a brilliant stop from Sammy Ndjock. Up until this point, Ndjock hadn't been called upon much in the match. But, with Hristov barreling down on him from the top of the box, Ndjock stood composed. Hristov struck his shot low, aiming for the bottom and attempting to slide it under Ndjock's left arm. Ndjock was quick to reach, and pounced on the ball, not just stopping it but catching it where he stood to maintain the Loon's 1-0 lead.

Ndjock did well to keep the clean sheet throughout the match, being tested five times and coming up brilliantly each time. He caught every shot that went his direction except a difficult crashing shot in the 88th minute to maintain his shutout and keep the Rowdies out of the book.

"When you keep a clean sheet you're going to get some points, or at least a point, so I think that's kind of the name of the game in this league-not give up silly goals and then try to sneak in a couple of goals," said Pitchkolan. "So obviously getting a shutout is great, and doing it at home and getting back to winning ways."

The Loons doubled their lead in the 62nd minute with Speas intercepting a pass in the penalty area and taking a touch toward goal. This time, instead of shooting, Speas centered the ball in the direction of Aaron Pitchkolan. Pitchkolan could only connect with the tip of his boot, and couldn't direct the shot on net, but Christian Ramirez was there to clean things up-scoring his league-leading 13th goal of the season.

United saw red with just eight minutes left to play for a seemingly innocuous tackle at midfield. Joe Cole, who had been shown yellow for a dive earlier, crossed half dribbling at full speed. United midfielder Jack Blake attempted to catch him with a tackle from the side, but nicked him low on his foot. Cole went down screaming and the center official obliged, showing red immediately.

It proved to be the last action of the game, as the center official blew his whistle shortly thereafter, the Loons taking all three points at NSC Stadium and turning around a four match winless streak. It's a short turnaround for United, who will take off for Jacksonville tomorrow for a 1:30 p.m. CDT kickoff on Saturday.

"It's a good win, it's a grinder but that's where we are right now. If we keep grinding wins out like that, great," said Craig.

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North American Soccer League Stories from August 17, 2016


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