by Ian Katan
GLENDALE, Wisc. — The opening game of the 2024 League Two season saw Minneapolis City SC return to Heartland Value Fund Stadium, the site of the club’s first-ever competitive match, in 2016. In that debut outing, the fledgling Crows shared the points on offer with host Milwaukee Bavarians in a 0-0 draw.
For 83 minutes in this season’s league-opener, it looked as though that outcome would be replicated. But a late strike from distance erased any hopes of a repeat, and City drove the five-and-a-half hours back to Minnesota on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline.
Going into the match, energy was high following the Crows’ victory over Rochester FC in the Minnesota Super Cup the week before. With players still returning from the end of their academic years, City did well to blend fresh faces with returning players, finding the net on two occasions. And more importantly — as early concessions were an issue in 2023 — Minneapolis prevented the visiting Loons from scoring from any attacks other than a chaotic post-penalty kick flurry.
Against the Bavarians, defense proved to be a strength for City again.
“I was really happy with our defensive effort,” general manager and head coach ad interim Matt VanBenschoten said following the match, where he filled in on the touchline for Carl Craig, who watched among the fans on the opposite sideline due to issues with league clearance.
“Carl’s focal point has been starting with the defensive side of the ball, and I think the boys have done a really good job with that,” he continued. “I think we did a fantastic job in terms of the work ethic, and the focus there was just phenomenal.”
The first-half swung back and forth as both teams’ defenses prevented the creation of any significant attempts on goal. The visiting backline did well to shut down the host’s attacks, and goalkeeper Evan Siefken helped clean up any half-chances that managed to squeeze through. The first 45 minutes, which could have fallen in either team’s favor, was scoreless at the break.
Looking to raise the energy in the second half, City came out of the locker room pressing hard. Within seconds of play resuming, Bernard Assibey-Rhule pounced on a loose touch and darted towards the net, but his shot narrowly missed the far post.
This energetic attack, lacking but the final product, was a theme seen throughout the game. Boosted by Hakeem Morgan and Victor Gaulmin returning from St. Olaf, where they won the Division III National Championship in December, City managed to show only flashes of the dangerous offense that’s nestled underneath their feathers. Wingers Assibey-Rhule and Dennis Mensah also found open turf on their respective flanks, but weren’t able to seriously trouble the Bavarians’ keeper.
“It just, unfortunately, wasn’t our day today,” Mensah reflected. “A lot of shots wasn’t falling. Today, shots, it just wasn’t going in the net today.”
“We had chances,” VanBenschoten echoed. “Tonight, we identified that with them playing a 3-4-1-2, there was a lot of space out wide in the pockets. We had some success in the first half, like getting Bernard and Dennis into those moments. And then it’s just, gotta win our one-v-one battles.”
The Bavarians lacked an attacking edge, too, with their most-notable chance a deflected shot that Siefken did well to parry at full-stretch. Siefken was slow to return to his feet after the diving save, and had to be replaced by Daniel Sessler a few minutes later.
Hosts and visitors traded blows for much of the second half, leaving any viewer who might have snuck off to the neighboring Bavarian Bierhaus by the 80th minute content that a draw was a reasonable reflection of the game. In the 83rd minute, however, the Milwaukeeans broke the stalemate. Bavarians’ Seth Stewart found space at the top of the box, fired a low shot past Sessler, at full-stretch, and into the far corner. The goal cast a sour aftertaste on Minneapolitan palates, against what might have been savored as a resolute performance, had the night’s decisive moment fallen for the Crows.
“The one that they scored was a good hit,” VanBenschoten said. “If you’re gonna hit a shot like that and beat us, then so be it.”
“We played with passion the whole way through,” veteran Crows defender Max Kent said. “Nobody dropped their heads,” he continued, admiring the collective determination from a group that had trained together for only a week.
“We still kept fighting, we played as a team,” Mensah agreed. “Guys showed grit. Guys were going into challenges, 50-50s. I mean, we played a very good side. But we never backed down.”
That passion, VanBenschoten pointed out, is a promising sign from a potentially frustrating result. “The attitude and effort, I can live with. That’s massive for us,” he said. “There’s a lot we can build on with that piece. The commitment, the defending, the communication.”
“We were all there for each other. We all played our hearts out,” Mensah continued. “We were dropping back, fighting for each other. Overall, we played as a team.”
A strong foundation of defensive tenacity, effort and teamwork this early in the season is encouragement for what might be on the horizon. The Crows were scored on 26 times in each of their first-two USL campaigns, averaging over two-goals conceded per game. Letting in only a combined-pair across their opening two games of 2024 — only one of which was initiated from open play — is already a mark of improvement. Pair that with a team togetherness, and the ever-present support from traveling fans in spite of a disheartening loss, and one could be forgiven for picturing impressive performances in the Crows’ future.
Building forward from an organized, determined and physical backline, there were also some positives on the attacking side of the ball to bring back to the Twin Cities. “The opportunities were there,” VanBenschoten reiterated. “I think it’s just that cohesion, getting on the same wavelength, will create a lot more opportunities, and ultimately goals, for us.”
“We have good players,” Kent concurred, noting that every team has an off day. “We’re good. I’m not worried. We move on.”
And even in a disappointing defeat, Mensah emphasized the importance of fighting to the final whistle and reminding everyone of City’s ambitions. “We’re not the underdog no more,” he said. “We’re here to compete with every team in this league, and show them that we can play as well.”
