by Ian Katan
ROCHESTER, Minn. — In Minneapolis City SC’s opening game of the 2024 campaign, the Crows defeated Rochester FC 2-1 at Edor Nelson Field. Three weeks to the day from that initial victory, the Crows flew down to face the Loons on their turf. The resulting match was equally hard-fought, and, thanks to a lone goal from Nick Kent, equally successful.
In between meetings, the two sides kicked off their respective League Two campaigns, and endured similar struggles. The Loons defeated St. Croix before being outscored 10-2 by Bavarians and RKC Third Coast. The Crows lost their first three league games, scoring only once in the process. Slow starts by both teams meant hosts and visitors were on the hunt for 3 points.
Minneapolis took away lessons from a recent determined-but-fruitless midweek performance against RKC. New head coach Justin Oliver made sure his players knew what changes to make, ahead of their trip south.
“I talked about, after the last game, we felt like we had a process that could’ve deserved more, but we did not go out and earn it,” Oliver said. “We gifted them some opportunities and we did not do well winning first, second, and third balls, which is really how RKC punished us. So we knew, today, that this was a great opportunity for us to try to correct that right away.
“We knew that we could bring our on-ball quality to force [Rochester] into their own half, and pin them in, and create attacking opportunities. We knew that we could also turn them over high up the field with our pressing, and we also knew from watching their game against RKC, they were susceptible to set pieces,” said Oliver, highlighting his three focal points for the game. “We were like ‘Alright, guys. If we check two of these boxes, we could absolutely win today. If we can check all three, it could be a very comfortable game for us.’”
Eli Goldman, returning for his fifth season with Minneapolis, put Oliver’s ideas into practice right from kickoff. The recent Wildcats graduate sprinted through Rochester’s half to come within inches of knicking the ball off the toe of the Loons’ keeper, and forcing a dangerous early turnover. Though just a fraction too late, Goldman’s energetic pressing was an indicator of what was to come.
Through the first hour of play, the Crows worked to implement more of the Oliver’s principles. Dominating possession, City comfortably moved the ball from side to side, and held firm control of the midfield battle.
“We felt that every time they went big, we forced them into Max [Kent], Nick Kent, and Ryan [Keefe], who are phenomenal ball-winners. And then Jonah [Garcia], Jamo [Jameson Charles], Lionel [Vang], and our wingbacks did a great job of winning second balls, and that really allowed us to control and dictate where the game was played,” Oliver said.
City’s on-ball confidence resulted in a majority of the first half’s action being played at the host’s end, and when Rochester did break into the visitor’s third, Evan Siefken’s net was rarely threatened. Off the back of three results where one could be forgiven for letting their morale drop slightly, Minneapolis showed admirable resilience to not retreat into their shell.
“I do think, for the most part, it was a really comfortable game for us on the ball. We did not create as I would’ve liked, especially in the first-half with our lion’s share of possession,” said Oliver.
Despite the lack of clear-cut scoring opportunities through the first period of play, the smattering of Citizens in attendance, and those watching at home, were likely pleased with City’s control of the game going into the break. Having checked two of the three boxes so far, the scoreline could be the next target.
To that end, the third of Oliver’s trio of key tactical moments proved to be the difference. In the 65th minute, Steevie Lamarre, who had come onto the field only moments prior, won the ball off an opposing center back high up the field. The attack launched by Lamarre’s pressure earned City a corner kick, which Hakeem Morgan swung towards the far post.
The set-piece’s delivery looked momentarily as though it would fly over everyone, but the forehead of Lamarre redirected the corner back across the six-yard box. Through a sea of bodies, the ball made its way towards center back Nick Kent. The 6-foot-4 Macalester junior, uncharacteristically, had to fight his frame on the header, stooping to reach the half-volley. Kent the Younger’s softly-looped, back-post shot sailed into the net.
“It feels amazing. It’s my first goal with the club, ever since I’ve been here, so it’s an unreal feeling,” the former-Futures defender, and only Crow to play every minute of the season so far, said following the match.
With a number of close chances going against City this season, players and fans alike were relieved to see one fall in their favor. “It feels unbelievable, and above all, it feels good to get our first win in the league, get one in the win column,” Kent said. “I think we’ve been needing that this year.”
Last July, Minneapolis’ 2023 season ended with a trip to Rochester Regional Stadium, where they fell 3-2 to Med City FC in the semi-finals of the Minnesota Super Cup.
In that season-ending loss, City led early through Dennis Mensah, but were unable to grind out a victory. Unfortunate giveaways and lost runners allowed Med City, which has since merged with Rochester FC, back into the game. On Saturday evening, Minneapolis made its one-goal lead stand.
“Especially today, in these last minutes, just believing that we can do it, believing we can get it done, I think that was big,” Kent reflected.
For the remaining half-hour, the Crows dug in and fought. Siefken carefully pulled the hearts of countless City fans out of their throats with a number of saves to secure his — and the club’s — first clean-sheet of the season. Morgan Olson, making his first start for Minneapolis, earned a postgame locker-room shoutout for his tireless efforts on the flank. And Crows across the board put in shifts worthy of the three points they earned.
“It’s good for the morale, for sure. We got a reward for our performance today,” said winger Bernard Assibey-Rhule, who has started all five of City’s games in 2024. “I think we dominated in all facets of the game, and we were happy to get the result from that.”
“We added another key point to our game. It’s win the five-to-seven minute stretches that are the beginnings and ends of halves, and after goals. Against RKC, they scored at the end of the first half, and right away in the second half, so, alright, from now on, we’re winning these moments,” Oliver said. “Once we got to 85 [minutes], we were like, ‘Alright, all hands on board.’ Rochester did a really good job of making us defend in the last 10-minutes plus stoppage, maybe longer, and we did a better job of bending without breaking.”
“Our work ethic,” Nick Kent cited as a differential factor on the night. “Like Justin said after the game, we dominated in possession, we dominated with our pressing, we dominated on set-pieces. Those are the big things he’s been hitting, and I think that all just clicked today.”
“It was a collective effort, and then believing in something new,” Assibey-Rhule said. “I think Justin did a great job of showing us the different phases of playing, and then we just stuck to it, worked hard, and got the result from it.”
Finally on the favorable side of a close contest, the Crows will need to continue calling on lessons learned from two competitive games against RKC and Rochester. Current league-leaders, and defending Deep North champions, Thunder Bay Chill come to town on Wednesday.
“Just keep doing what we’re doing, and build off this,” said Assibey-Rhule, looking ahead to the Canadians’ visit. “The defensive side was good, keep that clean sheet, and then going forward, the attacking phase will continue to get better as time goes on, too.”
“Justin’s done a great job scouting the other teams, getting us information about them, preparing us for what we’re gonna face,” Nick Kent said. “Recover, and then just look to the next game.”
“We’re gonna, every single game, focus on, kind of, the key points that I’ve alluded to, and we know if we take care of those things on a gameday, we more likely than not will be competing for three points,” Oliver said. “We got a good test with them coming up, and we’re just looking to build that momentum of a really good performance in all phases of the game.”
