MINNEAPOLIS — Things started on an unfortunate note and spiraled downward for Minneapolis City SC in a lopsided 5-1 loss to visiting Rochester FC. In just the 5th minute, RFC’s Juan Lopez Arteaga wrapped both his hands around Minneapolis forward Hakeem Morgan’s head while contesting a corner. Morgan, left bleeding from a deep-split lower-lip, was then forced to the sideline. Playing down a man, the Crows would concede their first from a corner three minutes later, as Morgan was still receiving attention from City’s trainer.
Warren Moss would double the southern-Loons’ lead in the 24th off the counter, and set up Rochester’s third, earning a penalty when Crows centerback Curtis Wagner’s tackle got man instead of ball.
Crows keeper Kaelen Matacastillo got a good read on Pedro Palhares’ penalty, going to the correct side. Palhares’ placement was precise, however, and found what little space was left between Matacastillo’s outstretched hands and the post.
Absent fullbacks Carson Pena and Wes Lorrens, along with holding midfielder Griffin Gyurci, City had to cope with diminished familiarity at the back of its shape.
“We knew it was a challenge going into this game,” said captain Jonah Garcia. “It’s not something that’s really talked about but everyone is aware that Carson popped out with an illness, Griffin popped out with just a random back injury due to some tight hips, and Wes had something going on where he couldn’t be here. You do your best, trust the guys around you, and that’s why everyone’s at training.”
A pair of side volley’s from Steevie Lamarre raised hopes for a way back into the game — particularly a 29th-minute effort body-blocked by Palhares, who was stationed on Rochester’s far post — but the Crows went into the half trailing by a trio of goals.
The game grew, in polite terms, chippier as it progressed.
“Some of these guys are experienced in football,” said City head coach Carl Craig of RFC. “They know how to play the game. They know the dark arts. But not to take anything away from them, they’re also good footballers.
“With respect to everyone, we didn’t have that edge. You know, a lot of different accents on the field tonight, bringing different cultural elements to the game, and different experiences. And I think those experiences lend themselves more than our sort-of safe domes in Minnesota during the winter.”
In the 55th minute, RFC’s Jovaunn Ramos contested with Wagner for a ball in the air. Bouncing off Wagner, the smaller Ramos rolled into Wagner’s feet upon going to ground. The City centerback’s boots made contact with Ramos’ head as the former moved to untangle himself. After play was stopped for an unrelated, subsequent foul, the referee consulted with his assistants. Ultimately, the fourth official provided the deciding view that Wagner acted with intent.
Wagner, already on a yellow, was not given a second caution, but shown a straight red.
Whatever the merits — and from the author’s own point of view as well as that of the broadcast camera, the fourth official had a better angle — there was visible displeasure among the Crows with respect to the officiating, and not tied just to Wagner’s sending-off. It was, admittedly, not an unusual response from a competitive soccer team down three goals.
“This is a pretty young group,” said Minneapolis captain Jonah Garcia. “Referee feedback in games should be coming from coaches or a captain. Guys that are getting on the referees during the match, it takes them out of it. They need to be able to push through it.
“It’s just a psychological shift, where, it’s out of our control. We need to realize that. We have to be willing to keep going, because nothing we do is going to change decisions after they’re made. We just have to get right back on to the next action.”
A bit of veteran leadership came in the 67th minute, when the Crows’ leading goal scorer, Eli Goldman, notched City’s loan goal on the night. Dennis Mensah, splitting lines with an incisive pass, set up his forward so that Goldman needed only two touches to finish.
The Crows created other chances, but none wound up in the back of the net. Morgan was happy with the success City found initiating attacks out wide, but noted the needed cutback or pass inside the 18-yard box was missing.
“I think we’re combining pretty good. We’re getting into good spots. We’re not finishing our chances,” said the center forward. “Just being a little-bit sharper on the last pass, the last shot, we’ll definitely have a better chance of winning games.”
Battling down a man, and chasing the game, the other Loons would pull away from Minneapolis with additional goals in the 71st (Lopez Arteaga) and 90th (Faris Colic) minutes.
“Five-one, regardless of the circumstances, no one feels great. So, to rub salt in the wounds, I don’t think helps,” said Craig on his postgame talk. “I’ve got me thoughts coming in to this week. We know we’ve got to do better. We’ve got to do better. We’ve gotta work hard.
“I think they’re a great set of kids. I said, ‘You can all walk out that door and hold your head high.’ Because there wasn’t a single bloke who quit. We didn’t play our greatest football, of course. But every one of them can walk out of there with their heads held high, knowing we went for it.”
Garcia, taking stock in the immediate aftermath of a rough night, saw the same.
“I’ll watch the film back. I watch it after every match. But the one thing that is commendable with this group, is, the soccer might not be pretty — which it wasn’t — and we made some really stupid choices, but nobody’s hanging their heads, from what we saw,” said the captain. “Guys are willing to keep fighting, regardless of the scoreline.”
Asked about what went well on the night, Craig first turned his attention to City’s supporters.
“Quite flattering, really,” said Craig. “Another good crowd last night. Right behind the team at the end. I can hear that; I can hear the support comin’ from the stand, there. And that’s wonderful. I’m sure the lads appreciate it as well, so that’s great.”
Craig also noted that Mensah made a case for more minutes, providing a spark off the bench, as did Mark Gallagher.
“I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom,” Craig said, looking ahead to facing the FC Manitoba. “The result’s horrible, ‘course. You know, put it context. We’re moving forward. I still think there’s plenty of fight left in the dog. It’s can we keep goin’ and keep chipping away. We’ve got a game on Wednesday against another good opponent.”
Morgan echoed his coaches thoughts, with a prescription: “Mentally, be ready. We cannot let this game translate to Wednesday. We need to be better.”
Shiny things
- With a short turnaround ahead of Wendesday’s home game against Manitoba, several Futures players were recommended to Craig to join first-team training on Monday, pending availability. Among them: Forward Carter Hermanson, who has notched four goals and two assists in the UPSL; defensive midfielder Carlos Robles, who plays his college soccer for Gustavus Adlophus; keeper Daniel Linder, who starts for Carleton College and has only allowed a penalty for the Futures, and centerback Nick Kent, the 6-foot-4 younger brother of former City defender Max Kent.
- Midfielder Scott Heinen, who played collegiately for Gustavus, is due to join the Crows this week, returning from playing abroad for Germania Eicherscheid in Germany. Craig said that Wednesday would likely be too soon for Heinen to feature, but that the midfielder may be available for selection this weekend against St. Croix Legends.
