Match Recaps

by Ian Katan

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the second edition of the Minnesota Super Cup, Twin Cities rivals Minneapolis City SC and St. Croix Legends battled for the chance to lift silverware. By a trio of unanswered goals, it was St. Croix who took home the trophy.

Though not all 22 players who walked out under the late-July sun may have been regulars in each side’s lineup — the return to college for many athletes having already begun — the two teams were far from unfamiliar opponents. Playing seven times over the last three summers, the two most recent results were split; the Legends beat City 3-0 in May, but the Crows bounced back with their own 2-0 win on July 14.

The pair had managed similar records in this season’s Super Cup, with two group-stage victories a piece. City beat Rochester FC 2-1, and Minnesota United MLS Next 5-1. Legends defeated Duluth FC 4-2, and Force FC 4-1. A meeting between two sides that had found their form in the tournament signaled an exciting matchup for lower-division soccer fans. 

And after one false start, it was finally time for the anticipated Oliver v. Oliver derby. City head coach Justin Oliver took charge of the Crows in May, while his twin brother, Tyler, is head coach of the Legends. Though the squads played a league match 11-days prior, with Tyler serving a League Two suspension for a red card, Thursday’s cup final was the first time this season that both brothers were on the touchline. 

“It will be another cool, unique experience for me getting to coach against my twin brother,” Justin Oliver said, after his side took down the Legends earlier this month. “It’s very special that, you know, we’re two of the three head coaches at the USL2 level in Minnesota. So I got a ton of respect for him.”

“They say it’s really tough to beat a team three times in one year,” Tyler Oliver said, during an interview at halftime of the July 14 match in Stillwater. “So maybe if City takes this one, we’ll take the Super Cup one.”

Unfortunately for fans of the Crows, Tyler Oliver’s prediction proved true.

In similar fashion to the recent meeting in Stillwater, the opening goal didn’t take long. But this time, it wasn’t in City’s favor. Thirteen minutes in, Nathan Donovan flicked on a long throw-in, and Ramzi Ouro’s glancing header found the far post.

Minneapolis and St. Croix traded blows, looking to nullify or extend the lead. Each let promising chances go untaken, before the Legends found another breakthrough. Goals on either side of halftime from Stu Sain (43’) and Asher Ozuzu (46’) sealed the game for St. Croix.

“Really, setpieces,” midfielder Joey Tawah reflected, on where the Legends gained their edge. “I mean if you look back, it was us that had control of the ball, control of the game, it was just those few moments where we switched off, and at this level if you do, you will get punished.”

“In the regular season, we put in a good performance like that, you can build off it cause we deserved more. But in the final, ultimately the biggest thing that matters is the result,” Justin Oliver said.

While City lacked goals, chances to score were still present. Eli Goldman, who ended as the Super Cup’s Golden Boot winner thanks to his hat-trick against MNUFC MLS Next, was denied his fourth goal of the tournament by a last-man clearance in the 67th minute. Sidike Jabateh and Henri Tophoven also tested Nolan Meyer in net, keeping up the form that saw City take the most shots of any side in the group stage. 

“I think it was really unlucky for us to not leave with a couple of goals,” Justin Oliver said. “We played well, which is kind of back to the theme of the season, it’s just our finishing touch and final ball just was not quite good enough.”

Beyond creating chances that, on another day, could have kept them in the game, City fought hard at the defensive end to stay in the contest. 2024 Golden Crow recipient Evan Siefken’s commanding performance shut down multiple Legends attempts to pull further away, and undeterred by fatigue late in the match, Zuheer Al Abase stayed sharp to deny former-Crow Clemente Arcuch Puig from point-blank range with an impressive block. Spirit, still present despite a frustrating result, was clear to see.

“In terms of how you control moments and control the game, everything was awesome for us. You don’t take solace in it, but I can at least take pride that if we put in that performance against them, more often than not, we’re gonna be the ones leaving with a win,” said Justin Oliver.

A further upside from the otherwise disappointing result was six Futures appearances throughout the night. Mitchel Munzing, Jordan Ross, Joseph Swallen, Asher Johnson, Tomas Menna, and Sam Kaeding all logged minutes after impressive seasons with the U-21s, in which they won the Midwest West division regular-season crown. 

“Sam Kaeding was massive, Tomas Menna was massive” said Justin Oliver, applauding the two Futures players who, making their first starts, stepped up with strong showings. 

“It feels really good, playing this whole summer with the U-21s, having a good season with them, and just to be rewarded for it,” Kaeding said. “This game didn’t go as planned, but we executed exactly what we wanted to do really well, just got unlucky with the score.”

A 3-0 loss to end the summer was at odds with a year in which Minneapolis battled through a mid-season coaching change and multiple rough-patches to a 7-8-0 overall record, its highest points total in League Two, and its first trip to a cup final. That improvement, for the Crows, hints at a club on the rise. 

“I think it’s been a year of growth for the club,” said Tawah, finishing his second season with City. “Tonight was not our night, but if you look at how we played tonight, it says a lot, ‘cause we, in my eyes, controlled the game, and it’s not a 3-nil game at all. It’s hard to swallow, but at the same time, there’s a big sense of pride because we have grown here, and tonight it showed.”

“Even though it’s a final and it hurts to lose it, we focus on the process and what we’ve done, and it’s all about the journey, not the end result,” said Justin Oliver. “If you want to judge it off whatever metric, I think that our last 12 games were a resounding success.”

Contributing to that success, as always, is the continued passion around the club. The Citizens flocked across the Mississippi to Macalester Stadium, and supported their team from the stands throughout the evening. Drums, chants, and flags provided energy and enthusiasm, regardless of the score.

“It’s a club that’s just building. We have great coaching staff, and we got better players every year. The chemistry is really good, and it’s fun to be a part of the club,” said Kaeding. “It’s very promising.”

“As I grew up watching City, it was a club that, I mean, we won, always. Most times coming to a game as a fan, you would expect us to win,” Tawah said. “The next step for us as a club, as players, is truly give our fans what they really deserve, which is a team that’s really fighting for them and showing what they mean to us because the support that this club has is unique and special.”

Justin Oliver’s perpetual focus on process had the coach turning his attention towards next season, postmatch, and already looking to use 2024 as a platform on which to build.  

“I definitely want to use this as the benchmark. The phrase that I like to use, instead of getting fixated on a point total at the end, it’s about our day-in-day-out process, and are we deserving of more, and hopefully we make that jump to earning more,” said Justin Oliver. 

“It’s all special. I have so much belief and positivity and optimism heading in towards what’s next,” he said. “I know if we have a little longer of a time together, a little more continuity in the squad, we can be pushing to be in the playoffs, we can be, hopefully, back competing for another Minnesota Cup final next year. The sky’s the limit, and we’re still just on an upward trajectory.”

Tawah concurred, adding, “Now it’s time to reflect and see what we can do better,” finished Tawah. “For me as a player, and for fans, I’m excited for the future.”

by Ian Katan

STILLWATER, Minn. — Crossmetro rivals Minneapolis City SC and St. Croix Legends squared off on a muggy Minnesotan evening, in a match filled with storylines. Most importantly, first-half goals from Henri Tophoven and Mizael Harris brought Minneapolis to 15 points, its most in a League Two season. 

With postseason qualification out of sight for both sides, attention was focused more on team accomplishments. The Legends, with a 2-2 draw in Thunder Bay on June 16, secured their highest points total in League Two. 

Looking to replicate that feat, City had equaled its own high-water mark with a recent 2-1 win over Thunder Bay. In 2022, two draws and a season-finale win collected 5 points. In 2023, three wins and three draws earned 12 points. Sitting on 12 points after four wins in 2024, any result against the Legends would mean City set a new USL season-best.

“I’m super, super happy with the 10 games that I got with them,” head coach Justin Oliver reflected on his first year in charge of the Crows. “[In League Two] 15 points is our best total, five wins is our best total, so we have a bunch of stuff that we’ve built off. I’m super proud of the guys because, again, they bought in right away, they were committed, everybody showing up doing the right thing, so massive kudos to them.”

In addition to aiming for club-high finishes, there were plenty of other factors at play. The Crows beat the Legends just once in six previous attempts — a 1-0 home win on July 15, 2022 — and were eager to get one back against their Twin Cities rivals. And beyond signaling the end of the league campaign, the match served as a preview of the upcoming Minnesota Super Cup final, also against St. Croix Legends. 

“Tonight […] they got to see some stuff that we would probably do against them. We got to see stuff that they would do to us,” Oliver said, looking ahead to the championship. But before the Crows and Legends face off for a chance at silverware on July 25, Sunday evening’s match needed to play out. 

In Stillwater, an in-form Henri Tophoven broke the cagey opening 16 minutes with his third goal in four games. Jameson Charles intercepted a long clearance and noticed Tophoven dropping into space between the lines. Finding himself under an unexpected lack of pressure, the German striker shifted the ball out of his feet and tried his luck from 28 yards. 

Legends goalkeeper Nolan Meyer sighted the attempt well, but Tophoven’s shot was dipping. Just in front of Meyer, the ball swerved down and caught enough turf to bounce over the diving gloves.

Ten minutes later, City’s night improved further. Boston University wingback Andrew Soczynski made a long run forward, and snapped a cross towards Eli Goldman. In similar fashion to City’s recent opener against Thunder Bay, Goldman opted not to take the chance himself, but teed it up unselfishly for strike-partner Mizael Harris. From eight yards, Harris powered a shot under Meyer for his second goal in as many matches. 

“I feel like it kind of just shows the perseverance of the whole team, you know, going through a coaching change midway through the season,” Soczynski said. “As you can see in our last couple of games, we kind of brought it together as a group, we stuck together and rolled through the season. […] And we were able to get some wins here at the end of the season, which is huge for our players, huge for the team.”

Down two, St. Croix nearly pulled one back moments later. Shea Bechtel, a face familiar to many City fans after his 2023 campaign in white and black, rattled the crossbar from close-range. Then on an attack just before the break, squeezed between a retreating defender and a well-positioned goalkeeper, Bechtel was forced to try for the far post, only missing narrowly. St. Croix’s best chances going untaken meant the Crows’ two-goal lead lasted to halftime.

As the stadium’s bleachers — which featured a respectable number of Citizens making the trek to the eastern suburbs— cast more and more valuable shade across the turf in the second period, St. Croix kept up their attack. Nathan Donovan ripped multiple shots at City’s net in the minutes after play restarted. The striker would have converted, if not for another standout night from Evan Siefken in net. 

“Evan Siefken made some really big saves for us, again. There’s a reason he was the Golden Crow this year, just being so big time, so consistent, so steady,” Oliver said. 

“Evan Siefken played outrageous today,” defender Max Kent put it, more succinctly.

A 56th-minute red card for former Crow Luca Contestabile gave Minneapolis a man-advantage in addition to their two goals, though it didn’t mean smooth sailing was in the forecast. 

“Honestly, when we went up a man, I think we actually started to play worse. We were worse on the ball, we didn’t compete as hard,” Oliver said. “We just didn’t really punish them when we went up a man. I think that was just due to a mentality switch. Part of that is on me for not being more clear with instructions of ‘Do we want to play more now that we’re up a man, or do we still want to continue to attack?’”

In City’s home opener earlier this summer, St. Croix beat Minneapolis by three unanswered goals. Though the Crows may not have put out their most comprehensive performance on Sunday, the fact that it was City with the advantage was a clear indication of progress made since that defeat.

“Big thing for us is, I think, that it gave us some momentum and belief that, you know, losing to them 3-0 at our place last time, and coming back here and winning 2-0,” Oliver said, looking back on the previous meeting. “It just, again, goes hand in hand where we’ve now played everybody tight in the league, and can go toe-to-toe with anybody.”

“We also had a system that we’ve played for now, what, eight or nine games?” Kent said. “So we’ve had time under this coaching staff, we’ve really all agreed upon what our roles are and it’s, I think, a whole different team than that first time around.”

Though unable to find a game-sealing third goal, City battled through the 90-degree weather to earn their fourth clean-sheet of the year, and secured the points that carried them to their best-ever League Two finish. 

“I feel like the heat was obviously a factor. We felt it in the warmups right away. But I feel like we were able to stick with it, continue to work hard,” said Soczynski. “We were just on tonight. We found that early goal. We were able to keep believing, were able to keep fighting. We fought for each other.”

“It’s gonna look like an interesting team that we play in the Cup final, given the number of guys who are either going back to school or have conflicts,” said Kent, looking ahead to when the two sides will meet again, eleven days later. “But, look, the fact of the matter is we have a really good system here. Justin, Tudor [Flintham], have got a really good, solid idea of how to put this team together. They know the opponent, so we know we can beat them. We have the tools to beat them.”

“I think a lot of what we need to do goes into what we did today. It goes into our preparation, how we prepare for matches, how we train our mentality leading into these games,” Soczynski said.

While the Super Cup final lingers on the horizon, the group shared a moment to admire and appreciate the progress made by their team. 

“The club is just awesome. It’s special. I love being in charge and doing it with Tudor, and I’m super proud of the guys, and I’m super proud of the USL2 season,” said Oliver, assessing the importance of setting a new club-best. “I think it’s just getting City back to the level that it belongs, and deserves to be at. It’s one of the best-ran clubs, regardless of level. There’s so much passion and energy and belief from the people who run the club, the fans, the players, all of it.”

“I completely agree with Justin. I was glad to get the 15 points in the season. It shows massive growth in the team, especially given, you know, the start we had,” Kent said. “Of course, we always look for more. This club isn’t bound for 15 point seasons. That’s not our standard.”

“But really glad with the development of players, and the team, and you know, we’re now playing soccer we can be proud of. I’m happy that we got the results, happy that we finished higher than last season. But of course, hopefully, it can get people excited for what’s to come in the future.”

Making Kent’s reflections on the season and hope for the future more impactful was the fact that the shutout and victory were the last acts of his accomplished career. 

“It was obviously sad to think that tonight’s the last night,” said Kent, reflecting on a list of accolades that includes All-MIAC awards at Macalester College, being named a team captain at Syracuse University, and spending six years with the Crows. “Soccer is a gift. I said this at the end of the game, but it was actually something that I heard when I first got to City. It was something that guys ahead of me always would say or, you know, people in the front office would always say.”

“It was Max’s last game of the season. We knew that. We had to leave it all out there today. And that’s what we did,” Soczynski said, of playing for his fellow defensemen.

“I just kind of came here tonight with the attitude of just being super grateful,” Kent said. “Obviously it’s been a long, nice career and I feel happy that I had the pleasure of playing here one more season. But you know, I’m excited for what’s to come with all these guys.”

“At the end of the day, City finds a way to win, and that’s the standard,” he finished. “So I’m just happy that I finished my career playing the way that City plays, and that is winning at all costs.”

MINNEAPOLIS — On Saturday evening, in front of its largest crowd of the season, Minneapolis City SC found success on and off the field. Between the lines, first-half goals from Mizael Harris and Sidike Jabateh were enough to carry the Crows to their second win over first-place Thunder Bay Chill. And in the stands and concourse, denim-clad fans packed Edor Nelson Field for the Gene Party, raising money for M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital‘s research in life-saving gene therapy.

“Our fans were awesome. Big Gene Party hit. Super cool that City does things like this to help the community, and it’s an awesome story,” said head coach Justin Oliver, referring to City volunteer Scott Menk and his son Evan’s gene-therapy treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. “It’s awesome that we had a sellout, today. When you load up Edor Nelson and you play in front of over a thousand fans, I know that as a player, it can be an absolutely-electric environment.

“I definitely think they were pushing us, along the way, especially when it got to 2-1 and it got nervy. Whenever you make a big challenge or you do good things, and the fans have that roar and pick you up, it’s always a big thing. We could not do it without our supporters that are big-time.”

The evening’s events got off to a smashing start in just the 10th minute, when Jabateh played Bernard Assibey-Rhule into a pocket of space. Approaching the end-line, Assibey-Rhule pulled a driven cross back towards the penalty spot. Eli Goldman thought about attempting a volley, but chose wisely, leaving the ball for his wingback, Harris, who was just-then arriving in the 18-yard box on the backside of the play.

“[Jabateh] played Bernard on the right wing, through, and I was just kind-of creeping up there, hoping it would come across the box. I saw it, and I hit it,” said Harris, with his typical modesty.

That hit was a cool, controlled half-volley, snapped low, in between a crowd of players in front of net, goalkeeper Fancesco Leuzzi, and the far post.

Harris ran to the corner flag, holding his arms wide, before being surrounded by teammates.

“For that moment, I was just really proud of myself,” reflected Harris. “I’ve struggled, trying to score or assist throughout the [League Two] season, and it finally came. So, felt amazing.”

In fact, on the summer as a whole, Harris had not struggled to score goals; his production for the Futures team had earned him a call-up to the Crows’ senior side. And in City’s home finale, the Augsburg University forward notched his first League Two goal on a familiar stage.

“Miz is electric,” said Oliver. “When he is on his day, his one-v-one dribbling is better than anybody’s. Today, he was so good. That first chance that falls to him, for him to take it on the half-volley like that and put it in the bottom-right corner was big-time.

”It’s funny, because Miz came off after about 70 minutes, last game, and wasn’t supper happy with his performance. But he responds today and puts in an amazing shift. Goes 90 minutes. Tracks back — some big-time slide tackles in midfield. He checked every single box, today.”

Concurring with Oliver’s assessment, the Minneapolis Citizens’ supporters group voted Harris their Player of the Game for his efforts.

City’s next score, in contrast to Harris’ first senior-team goal, did not arrive in novel fashion. For the second-straight game, Jabateh would deliver what would prove to be the eventual match-winner in added time at the end of the first half.

Five days earlier, facing Minnesota United MLS NEXT in the Minnesota Super Cup, Jabateh found space just outside the Loons’ penalty area, and curled a shot, low, into the far corner, in the 45th-plus-two, to push the score to 2-0 in City’s favor.

On Saturday evening, once again in the second minute of added time, Jabateh struck.

Defender Curtis Wagner did quite well to pick captain Max Kent out of a crowd of players in the box, via a long throw in. Kent’s headed flick-on was met by a side-volley from Goldman, and it would have been enough for a goal had Leuzzi not intervened with a fantastic reaction-save.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the rebound fell to Minneapolis’ cannon-legged forward, and Jabateh was only too happy to blast a shot into the postage stamp, leaving Leuzzi, working to regain his position, absolutely no chance at continued heroics.

At halftime, fans stayed in their seats as Menk and City attempted to set a world record for the most people wearing denim in a single selfie. At time of publication, the club is awaiting confirmation from the Guinness Book of World records.

The second half brought more scoring chances from each side, but Crows goalkeeper Evan Siefken continued to do his part in commanding his 18-yard box. The 6-foot-4 keeper’s imposing presence had forced an error on a Chill breakaway, and in addition to a number of claimed crosses, the netminder also contributed a lightning-quick near-post save in defense of the hosts’ lead.

Everything seemed comfortable as the clock continued its steady march towards 90 minutes and the final whistle. City’s two-goal lead gave the Crows an always-welcome margin for error against one of the better clubs in League Two. But in the 85th minute, Loris Tsiatsipy pulled a goal back for Thunder Bay.

“Going up to Canada [on July 5], losing by one when we felt we deserved points, we knew we had a chance to perform and win, today.” Said Siekfen, “Luckily, we held on, there at the end.

“It’s nice to have a 2-0 lead because then the last 10 minutes are pretty chill. Once they got the first one, it’s kind-of like, ‘Buckle in. This is going to be a ride.’ Luckily, the guys did a great job defending. Everyone defended there at the end. It was a great team effort, and I was able to collect a couple balls, high in the air, to take some precious minutes off the clock. So, that felt good, too.”

As aforementioned, for Oliver, the night’s cause was bigger than just a result. And even speaking strictly as a soccer coach, the result, itself, required context.

“I think it’s funny,” said Oliver, “I’m supper happy to get the 3 points and I’ll always take them. I don’t actually think we played as well, today, as we did up in Thunder Bay. Sometimes soccer is funny. When you focus on your performance over an ‘X’ period of time, you’ll probably get some results maybe you shouldn’t have. And on the flip-side, you can also lose some that you thought you deserved. I still think we did enough to win based on how we created chances.

”When we got the second goal, things kind-of slowed down for us a bit… Would have liked to see us get that third goal, at 3-0, and then completely put the game on ice. But instead, we let [chances] go by. They wind up getting one in the mid-80s, and then it’s a very-nervy last 12, 15 minutes.”

Postgame, fans, coaches and players greeted one another on the field to celebrate a thoroughly-successful night. Amidst the joviality, the Minneapolis Citizens’ supporters group, as is tradition at each season’s home finale, presented their Golden Crow award, given to the Crows player who, “most-demonstrates passion and commitment to Minneapolis City, representative of the Citizens’ own dedication to City’s players.”

Siefken, now finishing his second summer with the senior team, was 2024’s recipient.

“It means a lot,” Siefken said. “Playing at this club for four or five years — I can’t even remember, now — starting at the Futures program and watching the senior team, to get this award means a lot to me. I don’t think I’d ever see this day come where the Citizens would pick me. I didn’t even think I’d be playing on this [senior] team.

“It’s an exciting night for me. Like you said, talking about [2020 Golden Crow recipient] Jonah [Garcia], he was great, tonight. He was all over the field, in the midfield, and then he got dropped back as a defender. So, he was terrific. I’m very grateful for my teammates. That’s who the award really goes to.

“Morgan [Olson] and Joe [Highfield] have said stuff about this, too. The atmosphere makes me want to come back every year. You look forward to gameday just because of how exciting it is. How much support we have behind the team. And it’s fun just to have people watching and supporting you. It makes you want to play that game even 10-times harder, for them.”

by Ian Katan

MINNEAPOLIS — With two matches remaining in what has been a challenging League Two season, Minneapolis City SC turned its sights towards a separate competition, and found its biggest win of the year. 

The final group-stage game of the Minnesota Super Cup brought Minnesota United FC’s MLS Next team to Edor Nelson Field. Both Minneapolis and Minnesota beat Rochester FC in their first of two group games, City 2-1 and United 1-0. That slight difference in goals scored meant that the Crows would qualify for the Super Cup final with a win or a draw, and the Lil’ Loons would only advance with a win. 

“For those that aren’t as familiar with the Minnesota soccer community, that Lil’ Loons team is good,” City head coach Justin Oliver said. “They went to the Minnesota Cup final last year, they beat us at home last year.”

After losing to the MNUFC MLS Next team in last year’s inaugural Super Cup match, the Crows bounced back in their second group stage game by beating Duluth FC 3-1 and qualifying for the competition’s semifinals. Their tournament run ended there, as a 3-2 loss to eventual champion Med City FC was the final match of City’s season. This year, motivation is high to go out on a happier note. 

Standing in their way, though, MNUFC’s Academy were far from an easy opponent. The Lil’ Loons managed a 4th-place finish in the MLS Next Mid-America Division and a trip to the MLS Next Playoffs last month. But knowing the quality within its squad, Minneapolis was still confident. 

“Obviously we have a lot of great players on the team, but there was something that is not clicking,” Crows forward Steevie Lamarre said, looking back on recent performances that weren’t always rewarded with attacking returns. 

“When the dam breaks, when the luck starts to break for them,” City founder Dan Hoedeman foreshadowed on live commentary as the match kicked off, “we’ve got a team that can really go on a tear.”

On Sunday evening, the dam didn’t last long. 

Less than a minute in, a high-press on a short goal kick meant City was already within yards of the United net when it forced a turnover. A bobbled pass allowed forward Eli Goldman to pounce before it reached the intended target. With his first touch of the game, Goldman slammed the Crows into a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish for the remaining 89 minutes. 

Taking just 50 seconds, Goldman’s finish was Minneapolis’ fastest ever. 

For a team that has struggled to find the back of the net,— at one point going three games without scoring — the Crows’ early advantage served as a reminder of what they’re capable. 

“If you focus on your process over an extended period of time, that is going to win out at some point,” head coach Justin Oliver said following the match. “We felt like we were creating good looks in a bunch of our games, and we weren’t taking our chances. Today, we did.”

Bolstered by an immediate lead, City wasted little time taking control of the evening’s proceedings. Goldman, along with Sidike Jabateh, Henri Tophoven, Bernard Assibey-Rhule, and Mizael Harris, gave United defenders headaches with tireless forward runs. The Crows took advantage of the Loons’ high line, using well-weighted balls over the top to fashion at least seven notable-chances in the first half; any of which might have doubled their lead. 

“Playing, like, one, two, three-touches, trying to be quick, and then just combining well,” Tophoven said postgame, about what went well for his side offensively. “We are really making a lot of runs from each other, depending on each other, so it’s gone really well these last two games.”

Deserving applause for preventing those chances, however, was MNUFC shotstopper Oliver Kelly. Multiple close-range saves frustrated City’s frontline, who would have expected to see the net ripple after creating so many favorable opportunities.

Despite Kelly’s heroics, the volume of chances  proved too great to keep the game within a single goal. After being foiled by the keeper on breakaways, crosses, one-on-ones, and headers, Minneapolis widened the scoreline with the penultimate  kick of the first half. Jabateh, who had asked questions of Minnesota’s backline all half with his strength and eye for a quick shot, picked up the ball 40 yards out and broke towards the net. 

From the top of the penalty arc, Jabateh unleashed a strike that turned Kelly into a spectator as it found the bottom corner. His second of the season would prove to be the game winner, the second Super Cup match in which Jabateh netted the decisive goal. 

“Honestly, I think that’s the biggest point. We had so many more shots these two games than throughout the season,” Tophoven said. “I think that really helped us being able to score more goals, and being very effective on top.”

A dominant first-half was a fitting show for the Crows’ largest home crowd of the season, drawn by the local opposition and good weather. Going into halftime, the characteristic drumming, chanting, and colorful flags and flares of the Citizens were on full display.

“Oh my gosh, I love our fans,” Lamarre said after the full-time whistle. “It’s awesome, you know, I have a lot of my U-9 boys that I coach that came to the game, they’re always asking me for advice and everything. Having them there to play in front of them and everything is such a great feeling.”

Though United made halftime changes, both Citizens and Crows kept their energy high in the second period. Seven minutes after the restart, a long throw-in from Curtis Wagner found its way to the back post via a flicked header. A patient Tophoven waited as the ball dropped onto his foot, before bouncing a half-volley over Kelly’s stretching arms and into a three-goal lead. 

“It was a pity that I had to miss so many games throughout the season, would’ve loved to take part of it,” Tophoven said. An injury had kept the German forward out for much of the 2024 campaign, but the Tophoven has returned with two goals in two games. “It’s great just to be back on the field with the boys and contributing to the wins.”

Tophoven wasn’t satisfied with just one goal contribution, though. In the 65th minute, he slid a clever pass through United’s backline for his strike partner Goldman to run onto. Undeterred by Kelly’s interventions on a number of his first-half efforts, Goldman made his next chance count. The ball was in the back of the net before the keeper could react.

After a tiring match spent mostly on the back foot, the Lil’ Loons deserved credit for fighting onwards despite the lopsided scoreline. Dominick Vargas sent a close shot over Evan Siefken’s crossbar a few minutes after Goldman’s double, and John Farris found the far corner for a consolation goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time. 

Though Farris’ finish brought a thin silver lining to United fans in attendance, by the time he scored, City had already extended their lead to five. Seconds into extra time, Lamarre flicked a pass over his marker towards the wide-open Goldman, who didn’t wait for the ball to land before lashing his third of the night past Kelly.

Goldman’s haul made him the first Crow to score two hat-tricks (after his trio of goals in a 5-3 loss to RKC Third Coast last May), and moved him to within two of Will Kidd’s 19-goal career tally, City’s all-time leader. 

“Eli Goldman finishing with three today was awesome,” Oliver credited his forward. “He’s one of our catalysts going forward.”

The Minneapolitan cake would have been iced even more sweetly had any more of the Crows’ 20 total shots managed to find the net, but 5-1 was a plenty decadent scoreline. The last time City managed such a large result was a 5-1 victory over La Crosse Aris on June 18, 2022. 

“I was so happy with the performance today,” Oliver said. “We’ve been knocking on the door, and today, we just kind of kicked through it.”

“One thing about this group that I love is that it doesn’t matter if we have two or three games left, we’re gonna finish it through,” Steevie Lamarre said, emphasizing the importance of the commanding victory. “We’re gonna keep on playing, even if things don’t go our way. We’re gonna play until the last minute, so to get the result we got tonight, I’m happy.”

“It just boosts the morale a little bit more for the end of the season. We obviously want to finish out good, and now with the opportunity to win a trophy at the end of the season, that would be amazing,” said Tophoven. 

The final hurdle between City and the Super Cup trophy is fellow League Two side St. Croix Legends, an opponent not unfamiliar for Oliver.

“I’m excited for it. It’s funny, cause again, that’s a club that I got love for. I played for it from 14 and on, I still coach youth soccer there, my twin brother is the head coach of the team, so it is going to be a bunch of interesting dynamics,” the head coach smiled. “I’ve been joking with the guys like, ‘Man, if you guys love me at all, I know you guys will help us get 3 points or win a trophy over them so I got some bragging rights over him.’”

Before the Oliver vs. Oliver championship can take place in late July, two more regular-season games must be played, including a final league match against St. Croix. With athletes beginning to leave Minneapolis and return to their collegiate teams, City will have to rely on their depth to find results. 

“It’s a next-man-up mentality,” Oliver said of the remaining few matches. “We’ve had different people step up into bigger opportunities. Even in our last game, we had three Futures players travel with us to round out the roster. People know that if you are available, you are committed, you are bought in, at some point you will have that opportunity.”

“Right now, the whole team is focused on the next game, the final against the Legends,” Lamarre said. “We’re gonna win it. We’re gonna win it. That’s what we’re gonna do differently this year, we’re gonna win it.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Playing away, against the Deep North’s first-place club, was never going to be the easiest of matches for Minneapolis City. But the Crows — thanks to second-half brace from Steevie Lamarre — took their first-ever point off the Chill in last summer’s visit to Thunder Bay. And on June 5, at Edor Nelson field, the Crows grabbed their first win in the series. Recent history suggested a result was possible.

On Saturday evening, things started poorly. The Chill, thanks to goals from Tyler Attardo and Diego Reveco, lead 2-0 by the 21st minute. To say the Crows did not find their footing, early, would be apt, with a pair of slips from center backs Max and Nick Kent aiding Thunder Bay in finding the net for the two aforementioned scores.

Minneapolis would rally, however. Making his first start, forward Henri Tophoven drew a corner from a shot on target. It was taken short, but led to a second, proper, and with the latter, Eli Goldman picked out the head of Nick Kent, who buried his shot for his second goal of the League Two season.

Aside from a couple unfortunate moments, City had been playing well. Now, they were back in the game, trailing by a single goal. At least for the next three minutes.

Attardo scored his second of the evening, this time from a corner of his own, as if replicating Nick Kent’s in order to wipe it away, and restore the hosts’ two-goal margin for error. It would prove, in increasingly-frustrating fashion, the eventual game-winner.

Not that the Chill failed to continue to create chances of their own on into the second half — including an Attardo breakaway that keeper Daniel Sessler managed to pressure ahead of the forward sending it just wide of the far post — but the combination of effort and near misses from the Murder made for a maddening final 45 minutes.

“At halftime, we went into the locker room feeling good about our performance, and unlucky, based on where the scoreline was,” said Oliver. “I said, ‘Guys, we’re going to go out there and win the second half.’ Unfortunately, their keeper made some great stops.”

Josha Moya saved a close-range effort from Tophoven in the 55th, and a Goldman penalty-kick in the 59th. Nick Kent was denied a second headed-goal through the combined efforts of Moya and the crossbar in the 67th. Two minutes later, Sam Jordan would pick up his second caution of the match in spite of not entering until the second half, to give Minneapolis a man-advantage for the stretch run.

Futures products Jordan Ross, Sam Kaeding and Joseph Swallen provided fresh legs off the bench. City continued to push for a result.

“They all did really, really well,” Oliver said. “Even with some [senior team] players heading back to school, early, I still feel like we went down with a really strong lineup. Jordy did well playing a bit of striker and did even better we we isolated him out wide, as a right-mid, for the last 20-or-so minutes, with some good one-v-one moments. Joe came in for Adam Senna when we went up a man — trying to take off a defender to get one more midfielder higher-up — worked hard, competed, and did a good job of connecting and playing simple.

“And Sam, they knew he was one of the younger players getting call up. They tried to isolate their striker against him when they would go long. Sam did a great job of competing against them, winning firsts and collecting seconds.”

The 90th minute arrived, and hope was kept on life support with the announcement of six minutes of added time.

Nick Kent sent a header just wide in the 93rd. A moment later, Thunder Bay were called for handling inside their 18-yard box. Tophoven, leaving Moya no chance, roofed his penalty kick to score his first for the Crows, and bring the game within a single goal.

“Henri getting back to match fitness is a big boost. He was so, so good in the game, and obviously left with a goal” said Oliver. “Did a great job and was just super dangerous. He’s a player where, you don’t quite realize how much you missed him until he’s finally playing, and puts in a performance like he did, tonight.”

Sessler came up for a pair of corners in the dying moments. The second was played out for a City throw-in. Play continued into the 97th minute. The ball was worked into a crowd, inside Thunder Bay’s penalty area. From there, a clearance was skied into the air, and before the ball could bound off the pitch, the final whistle, finally, was blown.

Several Crows collapsed to ground to rest for a count; part of a beat that’s been drumming on for a few games. Chances created… goals unscored… deserved more for our effort… but results earned by finishing.

“It sounds crazy to say, but I would be so much more worried if the chances weren’t coming,” Oliver reflected. “It’s just a little-bit unlucky. You’ve heard, ‘goals change games’. They’ve got Tyler Attardo, who is now on 10 goals in their League Two season. That, right there, will put you over the top.

“We were down 2-0 within 20 minutes and we were probably outshooting them eight-to-three, or nine-to-four, and had more shots on target, and had four-to-five corner kicks to their two. But they were clinical, and ruthless in their moments.”

The summer has landed, for a club previously accustomed to success, as another in search of it; a quest both for small victories amid defeat, as well as for the path back to winning.

City are still in contention for silverware, via the Minnesota Super Cup, and win or a draw at home on Sunday, against the Minnesota United U-19s, sees the Crows through to the final. There is also qualification for next year’s Super Cup still to play for, as Minneapolis looks to keep its 3-point lead over Rochester FC as each head into their final pair of League Two games of 2024.

“Sunday, we’re fielding a very strong lineup against the Little Loons,” noted Oliver. “I’m putting a big emphasis on us being able to compete for a trophy. So, we’re going to come out and play for a win on Sunday, while I still know that if we tie it gets us through to play the Super Cup final at the end of the season.”

by Ian Katan

MINNEAPOLIS — For a third time this summer, Minneapolis City SC squared off against Rochester FC. And for a third time, the Crows took down the Loons, this time by their largest margin yet. 

The avian-derby’s first installment of 2024 was City’s season-opening game in the MN Super Cup. A pair of goals from Juan Moreno and Sidike Jabateh proved too much for a Rochester side that managed a lone strike. Then, the Crows flew to southern Minnesota, where Nick Kent delivered their first win of the League Two season. 

On Saturday night, energy for a three-peat was high from start to finish. 

An in-stride Eli Goldman brought down a pass and might’ve fashioned a shooting chance only two minutes in, had the referee not judged that the ball was controlled with bicep instead of chest. A few minutes later, center back Max Kent took an ambitious, (to say the least), first-time cannon shot from 30 yards out. Though it didn’t threaten Daniel Miklosi in net, the intent from Minneapolis was clear: take the game to its opponents. 

In the 14th minute, the attacking confidence paid off. University of Portland teammates Joe Highfield and Morgan Olson combined along the right sideline, before Highfield set off down the wing. With a deft nutmeg, the forward breezed past an opponent into the box and cut onto his left foot. Highfield’s incoming shot was prevented by a tug, and the referee pointed to the spot. 

“Got the ball out wide, I wanted to just dribble at pace, and took the guy on. Beat him, and then I went around one guy and felt him pull on my shirt,” Highfield remembered, one of multiple hard-working moments that earned him the Minneapolis Citizens’ Player of the Match award.

Goldman, who topped the University of New Hampshire’s scoring charts for the past two years, and is Minneapolis’ second all-time leading marksman, stepped up and sent Miklosi the wrong way from the penalty spot. 

His 14th career tally gave City the early lead it was looking for. Coming off a trio of games without any points, including the team’s heaviest defeat of the season last week in Milwaukee, correcting course with only three league outings remaining was imperative. 

“The last game [against Bavarians] was, like, a big eye-opener for us, where we felt like we were closer than we really were,” head coach Justin Oliver reflected after the win. “Then it was like, ‘Alright you guys, we’re going back to the basics of everything that we’ve been talking about.’ And we were just really focusing on how well we’re gonna compete today.”

Speaking on the field at Rochester’s stadium after the match in early June, Oliver emphasized the importance of staying switched on in important periods of the match, such as around stoppages and after goals. His team had conceded on either side of halftime the match prior, and Oliver commended them for better controlling those vital minutes. In addition to improved game management, defender Nick Kent and winger Bernard Assibey-Rhule had also attributed the 1-0 result to a strong team spirit.

Both points that brought City success in that match were seen again on Saturday, back at Edor Nelson Field. Following Goldman’s opener, with Oliver’s messages still in mind, the Crows didn’t sit back. Minutes after scoring, high-pressure from Goldman and Highfield forced a turnover just outside the Loons’ six-yard box. 

Highfield pushed the ball away from a tangle of legs for Goldman to run onto, but his goalbound shot was blocked by a last-ditch sliding challenge. Not only had City weathered the stretch of time after taking the lead, they were continuing to attack. 

And in the 26th minute, an example of that aforementioned collective effort could be found. Hakeem Morgan, deployed in the lineup as a striker, dropped deep into a central defensive-midfielder role to help win the ball off an opponent. The Crows were fighting for each other across the field, and getting results from it.

Struggling at times through early parts of the season, City’s offense was now finding rhythm. Goldman, Highfield, and Mizael Harris all had feet too quick for their markers, who picked up yellows trying to keep pace. 

“We got really, really good play from our wide players, Mizael, and especially Morgan Olson,” Oliver said, complimenting the Pilot midfielder for a number of skillful moments on the ball. “Morgan out on the right side was just kind of cooking, so we got him the ball one-v-one as much as possible.”

“I’m always looking to try to beat my man and create chances for the team,” Olson said. “I succeeded in it a couple times today, and so yeah, I was happy with it.”

“I think getting the ball out wide to our wingbacks was a really big help,” said Highfield. “They pinned their defense back really far, and opened up space for everyone else.”

Faced with in-form wide players on either side, Rochester’s tendency to retreat into a 5-3-2 while defending meant pulling numbers from their midfield, and ceding freedom to the Crows in central areas. Defender Ryan Keefe noticed and exploited this open turf, making multiple runs forward to add numbers in attack. And just before halftime, his fluid running allowed the Crows to do something they had been unable to do in league play so far this season: extend their lead. 

Two minutes into first-half stoppage, Goldman popped up on the right flank thanks to a through ball from Olson. While driving into the box, the forward lifted his head to pick out a pass. Morgan’s front-post dummy froze defenders, allowing Keefe, who had sprinted halfway up the field unmarked, to cruise onto the end of the cross. 

The connection wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to bundle the ball over the line. Keefe’s meaningful, though unglamorous goal was Minneapolis’ first from open play since Morgan’s chipped finish against RKC Third Coast, one month to- the- day earlier.

“One of our focuses in the pregame talk was to come out strong with a lot of energy, and that’s exactly what we did, scoring two goals in the first half,” Olson said.

The attacking energy stayed true throughout the second period, though no more goals came, legally. Ten minutes after halftime, Harris was run over from behind in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. The sunny mood of the home fans at the possibility of going three up, helped by City’s first blue-skied game in weeks, was short-lived. Harris was deemed inches offside, and the score stayed at two. 

Facing off against the same team three times in one summer can be challenging, as each opponent becomes more familiar with strengths to watch for and possible weaknesses to target. As the minutes between Minneapolis and Rochester this season ticked towards 270, the Crows worked hard to shut the door on any possibility of a comeback for their familiar opponents. 

“It was interesting. Rochester actually played us in a different shape today that they hadn’t played against us in the first two games,” Oliver said. “When they changed to a 4-3-3 in the second half, it kind of caused us a bit of problems, and they went direct to their wingers. So we made a change with about 30 minutes left to go, […] and I think once we sorted out that, everything got a lot more comfortable for us.”

A 78th minute second-yellow for RFC’s Bo Drath also took some pressure from the final minutes, the visitor’s seventh of an eventual nine total cautions. But rather than rest on their advantage and numerical edge, Minneapolis continued to search for the net. 

With five minutes remaining in regulation, Hakeem Morgan tucked home a cross from Assibey-Rhule, the final touch in a slick sequence that cut from back to front in three passes. The finish would have given Morgan a goal in his final game for the Crows, but the offside flag spoiled the fun once more.

Though the two best chances to pull further ahead were called back, four significant goalscoring opportunities, and many more half-chances, represented one of the best attacking performances of the year. 

“We played really well on the ball, competed really, really well,” Oliver said. “We checked a lot of the boxes that we talked about to have a complete game.”

“It was great. It was a good learning experience for sure,” Olson said, reflecting on his first summer with the Crows. “I’ve been playing in a position that I haven’t normally played before, so it’s been a learning experience, but I’m happy to play wherever helps the team. It’s been a good first season, and I’m happy with it.”

“Super nice, super nice. I was really excited to play in front of fans,” Highfield said of his feelings for the year, after an injury prevented him from logging any minutes for the Crows in 2023. “It’s like my favorite thing to do, getting on the field this summer felt really good, and it was a lot of fun.”

Though the match against Rochester was the final game for the two Pilots, before disappearing into the locker room, Highfield suggested that the 2024 season might not be their last in black and white. Slight solace for fans and teammates otherwise disappointed to see the pair leave.

For the rest of the squad, attention turns to a challenging away trip to Thunder Bay Chill, currently third in the Deep North division and on a four-game unbeaten run. But as with any tough match, confidence coming off a deserved victory can only help. 

“Go into training with the same intensity that we’re gonna go into the game with,” said Highfield, assessing what the team needs to do over the next week, regardless of who would take to the field in Thunder Bay. “And look forward to the 3 points.”

by Ian Katan

MINNEAPOLIS — A largely-successful 2024 campaign for the Minneapolis City U-21 Futures drew to a close with a 4-2 loss to 1826 Academy in the UPSL Midwest West playoffs.

The U-21s had a standout league performance, recording eight wins, one draw, and one loss across the regular season. Twenty-five points marked the Futures’ second-highest regular-season total, and it was enough to top the Midwest West standings for the second year in a row.

“It’s been excellent,” head coach Josh Roy said, on his first year in charge of the U-21s. “The guys had a tremendous season, being excellent all the way through the UPSL season, and really through the entire run-in at the end.”

History was in City’s favor going into the game. The two sides had already met once in 2024, when the Crows took down 1826 5-3 in late May. Even better, the Futures had a formidable home record, having not lost a game at Edor Nelson Field in four years. 

1826 Academy, to their credit, were also entering the playoffs off the back of a strong year, where they finished 6-2-2, and put together a six-game unbeaten run to end regular-season  play. And in their inaugural summer, qualifying for the UPSL playoffs is a more-than-respectable accomplishment. 

“Everybody was prepared, everybody was looking ready,” Futures forward Tomas Menna said after the game, reflecting on his team’s foucs ahead of  the match. “We were excited, we’ve been here before, we know what it’s like. We knew it was gonna be a dogfight.” 

Dogfight it was. Eight minutes in, 1826 clipped a ball behind Future’s backline. Rigo Arellano ran in pursuit, but excessively rainy weather in the previous days meant that Arellano’s slide on the wet turf carried him too far into the visiting attacker, who went down, earning a penalty. In a moment of good fortune for the home side, though, the shot met post instead of net. 

Per Law 14 of the International Football Association Board’s Laws of the Game, a penalty kick-taker is not allowed to play the ball for a second time, until another player has touched it. And following the rulebook, when the ricochet came immediately back to the kicker, who tried again to find the net, the referee signaled for an indirect free kick and relieved the Crows of their duties defending the rebound. 

Spared an early deficit, Minneapolis set about searching for a lead for themselves. In the 25th minute, they found it. Menna was quickest to an overhit cross, and squared up with his defender just outside the box. A quick sidestep and he was free, picking out a low cross towards Carter Hermanson at the near post. 

Defenders gravitated towards the striker, not noticing Mitchel Munzing drifting in off their shoulder. Hermanson, rather than trying to force a tight-angle shot, smartly let the cross glance off his boot and towards the unguarded middle of the goal, where Munzing smashed it home. 

“I saw Menna get the ball out wide,” Munzing described. “Tried to find myself in a good space, be patient, see if the ball gets through. And it, luckily, got through.”

Though encouraged by good possession and confident play through the first quarter of the game, and now with a goal to show for it, the Futures’ only lead of the game lasted just two minutes. A cross-field pass on a breakaway allowed an 1826 forward to, in similar fashion to Minneapolis’ opener, make an untracked run up the weak side, and pick his spot from 12 yards out. 

“I think the group, it’s clear that they believe in each other, and they want to work hard for each other,” Roy said. 

Though an intense season culminating in a league championship might have led to a slight emotional-relaxation ahead of the playoffs, the Crows did well to continue pressing. In the 36th minute, Munzing played winger Camel Htoo into a one-on-one in front of goal. 1826 goalkeeper Ayuub Ahmed—who played in the 2023 Futures Winter League—got to the pass inches before Htoo, clearing the danger. 

The opportunity to go ahead would be looked back on regretfully for the Crows, as 1826 took their own chance to lead three minutes later. Another counterattack, this time up the left, led to a cross that found open space on the back post. A well-timed runner slid a one-touch shot under Chinavare’s leg for the go-ahead goal.

“1826 was really, really well-managed. They came out in a 3-4-3, with the outside midfielders connecting back, almost into a back-five. That allowed us a lot of territory and a lot of possession to start the game,” said Roy. 

“After we got our goal, they pushed those outside midfielders all the way up the field, essentially creating four flat across the front. They were beating us in transition moments in the wide spaces. And we were just a little slow to adjust to it, and gave up the two back-post goals.”

1826 might have had an opportunity to stretch their lead seconds later, if not for another last-ditch sliding block from Arellano. And though the visitors missed the first chance to extend their lead, they took their second. A long ball caught the on-attack Rookery out of position, and 1826 toe-poked themselves into a 3-1 advantage. 

That would be the last notable moment of an action-packed first half, sending City back to the locker room with work to do in the second period.

Eager to close the two-goal gap, Hermanson breathed life back into Minneapolis in the 57th minute. Htoo threaded a pass into the box towards the St. Johns striker, but an 1826 defender was well-placed to remove the ball from his shooting motion. Not to be discouraged by the missed opportunity, Hermanson quickly pounced on the loose tackle, firing the ball into the bottom corner, and the Crows to within a single score.

But, again, the excitement from a well-taken Minneapolis goal, and hopes of finding an equalizer soon, did not last long. Two minutes later, 1826 broke forward and fired a shot near-post to extend their lead to two for a second, and final, time.

“Every game, we’ve had each other’s backs, we’ve fought back from positions like this. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it today,” Menna said. 

The scoring had concluded, but the remaining half-hour continued to be eventful. Two open headers for center back Jeffrey Richter nearly wrestled the Crows back into the contest. Munzing, Menna, and Hermanson fashioned close chances for a deficit-halving goal, and Chinavare stepped up with a number of last-man saves to keep the scoreline reasonable. 

“I think we let the other team score goals that we probably shouldn’t have let them score, and then we missed chances that we should have scored,” Munzing said, postgame. “It easily could’ve gone our way today.”

A discouraging loss to end the season is not an accurate representation of the Futures’ otherwise impressive summer. 38 goals scored in 10 games, a fourth-straight appearance in the UPSL playoffs, and just a single league loss in four years, are all accomplishments that deserve recognition. 

“Everybody wants to do it again next year, continue competing, hopefully play at this level as long as we can,” Munzing said. 

“Next summer, we’d like to be in the same position, again,” offered Menna. “Ready to take over that moment in playoffs, just continue getting wins the same way we did this season. This season was great, and getting into those final moments, those elimination games, those knockout games, next year, that’s all we have to focus on.”

“It shows that there’s resilience in this group, there’s belief in this group that went all the way until the last minute, the final whistle of the game. They were fighting tooth and nail to try to get a goal back,” said Roy. “Those are really good building-blocks, from a cultural perspective.”

“To work with a group of guys who have this much ability, this much determination, this much desire to continue to improve and fight and win games, is a privilege to be with them.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minneapolis City SC travelled to Glendale, Wisc. on Friday to face Bavarian United ahead of what would prove its worst loss of the 2024 season.

“[We’ll] do what we can to prepare ourselves, ‘cause we go right back to them next Friday down in Milwaukee,” said goalkeeper Daniel Sessler ahead of the game. “We’ll have a five-and-a-half hour, six hour trip, and it’s not a trip we want to go down to Milwaukee for and lose. So it’s just put our heads down and keep working towards the next one.”

The evening’s result did nothing to lend any merriment to the Crows’ coach ride back to the City of Lakes, as City were shut out for the third-straight game, while four Bavarians made their way onto the scoresheet.

Bienvenu Djunga (11’) and Daiki Kumakawa (24’) gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at halftime. Seth Stewart (73’) and Zach Hult (90’) put the game well beyond reach in the second half. And where Minneapolis had lost both of its previous games against Milwaukee via conceding a lone goal after the 80th minute, in the pair’s third meeting of the summer, it was all-Bavarians, all the time.

“Just simply a horrible performance from us today,” said head coach Justin Oliver. “Poor on the ball, poor defensively, poor competitively from us. I wasn’t good enough today, the guys weren’t good enough, team loss top to bottom and going forward we are all going to be better because simply put we have to be.”

MINNEAPOLIS — As with Minneapolis’ last game against Milwaukee, a Bavarians’ goal in the final minutes put City on the short end of 1-0 final scoreline. And as with the Crows’ previous three contests, the Murder was unable, in spite of quality chances, to score from open play.

“If I could play my postgame press conferences on a loop… I feel like that’s what we’re getting to,” said Crows head coach Justin Oliver.

Things began in frustrating fashion, almost immediately.

A Nick Kent header from a corner, in just the 2nd minute, that had keeper Rui Aoki beat, was kept out by what looked to have been a goal-line clearance. Shouts went up, instantaneously and in unanimity, from the seven City players inside Milwaukee’s 18-yard box, that the ball had crossed the line. From the broadcast angle, and from the press box where the author was seated, it was impossible to ascertain whether the Crows had scored. Neither the assistant referee, correctly positioned on the end line, nor center official, perched inside the penalty area, made any signal.

“When you’re not scoring a bunch, it feels like it’s really hard for [goals] to come,” Oliver noted. “In the meantime, when you’re banging in goals, it just feels like they’re happening out of nothing. I feel like it’s just us waiting for the dam to break.

In the 9th minute, Mitchell Dryden got on the end of a long diagonal and slipped inside Crows’ wingback Morgan Olson. It took a clutch, one-on-one save from goalkeeper Daniel Sessler, getting down to deflect the hard-snapped shot just wide of the near post, to keep the game scoreless.

Having come within inches of an early lead via Kent’s header, City had escaped an early deficit, also by a matter of inches, thanks to Sessler.

In the 20th minute, forward Eli Goldman did more-than-well to slip a clever pass to midfielder Jameson Charles. Charles then played forward Hakeem Morgan into space down City’s right flank. With the afternoon’s rain having started up, once again, Morgan tried to chip Aoki from distance. Reaching back over his head to try and secure a wet ball, Aoki fumbled it to Eli Goldman, who had sprinted to get on the end of the play.

Aoki was starting to get up off his back as Goldman began a half-volley. Aoki also stuck an arm up in prayer to the soccer gods. And the soccer gods took pity. Goldman’s shot smashed into Aoki’s outstretched arm, and City were denied by a margin of inches, again.

The game stayed a tense affair, throughout. Credit could be given to how clean City’s players were in blocking a number of Bavarian shots. Concern could be raised about Milwaukee’s ability to find channels and shots inside the attacking third. And all the while, the game remained scoreless.

Chances crumbling to half-chances from a touch too many or a run a moment too late carried from the first half to the second, until the Bavarians offered up a nerve-wracking attempt on City’s goal.

Karim Bachir Bey’s inch-perfect cross from the left wing curled behind City’s back line, around and onto the foot of Dryden, inside the six-yard box. Once again, a lightning-quick reflex save from Sessler was the only thing preventing Milwaukee from taking the lead.

“Daniel Sessler made two huge saves; one on the breakaway in the first half, another really-big one on the cutback from six-yards out,” Oliver said. “They definitely had two really good looks they coud have scored from. When I play back our chances in my head… it’s another game where we did not take our chances when it was presented to us. Sessler made some big saves, I won’t deny that, but at worst I think we should have been leaving this game with a 2-2 draw.”

Both teams continued to push for a goal — any goal. From City, a 67th-minute effort from Morgan, and an 81st-minute free kick that Lionel Vang placed on Max Kent’s head, came closest to giving the Crows a lead that would never come.

In the 85th minute, Daiki Kumakawa found a pocket of space 20-plus yards out and loosed a shot in Sessler’s direction. The ball was sent directly at Nick Kent’s head, as Sessler was sighting it in. An instinctive flinch and the glace of the ball of Kent’s shoulder were enough to alter the shot’s path on its way into the top, near corner of the goal.

“Near post, took a slight deflection, up, so I was just unable to get there on that one. It’s just something, even if I know I’m not going to get to the ball, I still gotta throw myself at the ball and give myself a chance. I’ll put that one on myself, move on and learn for next time,” said the keeper, perhaps harshly, though not accepting the deflection as an excuse.

For others, appraisals — even accounting for the concession — were glowing. The Minneapolis Citizens supporters group would vote Sessler their Player of Game for his heroics on the day.

City nearly responded. A Joey Tawah tackle to steal the ball in the ball in the Bavarians’ defensive third led to a rushed cross. But the duffed clearance fell to Mizael Harris 18-yards out and directly in front of goal. The Augsburg forward’s outside-of-the-boot curler split a pair of onrushing Bavarian defenders, but sailed just wide of the far post.

Harris began the summer scoring goals in quantity for the Futures, and has since featured for City’s senior team in its last three games. On Saturday, he provided energy and an attacking spark off the bench after subbing on at the hour mark. Missing a goal of his own by inches, he put his own hand up, postgame.

“We have to capitalize on the chances we’re getting,” Harris said. “As you can see, the other team, they capitalized on a chance. And we had really good, three, four chances that we just didn’t finish. It’s more about… because we’re getting those chances, we just gotta finish.”

Vang would get a clean look to put his weight behind a low, driven shot a minute later, but it was then blocked before reaching goal.

The final whistle blew, and Milwaukee had taken all 3 points.

“The thing that I’m telling the guys,” said Oliver, “the big thing for us is, I’m sick of deserving results. I’m sure you guys are, too. We need to start earning them. Realistically speaking, now, if we don’t take our chances and put the ball in the back of the net, we’re never going to earn what we should, even though the performance is deserving of more.

“Once the first one goes in, the flood gates will open, and well get our confidence back,” offered Sessler. “The first one will go in, and they’ll just keep coming after that.”

“I do think it’s there and it’s coming,” concluded Oliver.