USL2 Central Conference Recap: Week 1-2

May 17, 2023

Week 1

Sunday

Des Moines Menace kicked off their 2023 season and return to the Heartland Division against a debuting St. Charles FC side in St. Charles home opener. The match did not go the way the hosts would have liked as they fell to Des Moines 4-0. The Menace struck early on with a Lagos Kunga strike from inside the six. After the opener in the ninth minute, the Menace struck again in the 33rd minute with a goal from Eliot Goldthorp. Des Moines would earn an own goal in the 65th minute before adding the fourth goal when Leroy Enzugusi sent a low shot into the corner of the goal from 15 yards out.

Week 2

Saturday

Midwest United FC 0-0 Oakland County FC

Midwest United hosted in-state rival Oakland County FC at MUFC’s home (and season) opener in Grand Raids, MI. Neither said was able to break a deadlock that would go through the entire 90 minutes, ending the match in the conference’s first nil-nil draw in the season.

Minneapolis City SC 1-2 St. Croix Legends

The Crows took to the field to open their USL2 season at home against St. Croix SC in the Twin Cities derby. After falling in their season the previous weekend in Minnesota Super Cup match the against MNUFC’s U19 team, Minneapolis City looked for their first win under Carl Craig. In what would become a very chippy match with seven yellows issued, Minneapolis City stuck first with a 31st goal from Hakeem Morgan directly from a free kick. Right after the start of the second half, St. Croix’s Nathan Donovan chipped the ball over Minneapolis goalkeeper Oscar Herrera’s head, then from near the six sent it in for the easy goal to draw the match level. Six minutes later Otis Anderson kicked in a ball bouncing around inside the six to put St. Croix up 2-1 and earn what would be the match winning goal.

Des Moines Menace 3-0 FC Wichita

After a routing win to open the season for Des Moines, FC Wichita looked to get the season off to a good start against easily the toughest team in the division. After staying even for nearly 30 minutes, the Menace snagged the opener when Eliot Goldthorp scored his second of the season on a rocket from inside the 18. Just four minutes after the opening goal, Lagos Kunga snapped up his second goal of the season when he chipped a ball over Wichita keeper Breno Zanolla, who would later be issued a straight red card, allowing the ball to roll in for the second goal and push the Menace firmly in control. Leroy Enzugusi tacked on the third goal in the 74th minute with an easy finish after receiving a pass inside the six in front of a wide open goal.

Cleveland Force SC 3-3 FC Buffalo

The season opener for both sides and the first ever USL2 match for FC Buffalo would end in each side taking home just one point after playing to a 3-3 draw.

AFC Ann Arbor 5-0 Kalamazoo FC

Another Michigan rivalry match opened the season with AFC Ann Arbor hosting Kalamazoo FC. After going into half-time up 1-0 off a goal from Charlie Sharp, The Mighty Oak broke the match wide open in the second half, with four more goals to secure a dominating win.

Fort Wayne FC 1-0 Kings Hammer FC

Fort Wayne FC edged out Kings Hammer FC in a closely fought contest with Alexandre Frank’s 75th minute bicycle kick goal being the deciding factor in the match..

Central Conference Standings after the first week of play in @USLLeagueTwo.@MenaceSoccer94 out to a six point lead in the Heartland after scoring 4-0 and 3-0 victories over the opening weekend.@AFCAnnArbor scored a huge 5-0 victory over Kalamazoo in AFCAA's home opener. pic.twitter.com/XZMtWg08iH

— Northern Lights Football (@Lights_Football) May 16, 2023