USL-2 Spotlight: MPLS City SC vs Thunder Bay Chill
Minneapolis City SC closed out their home season with a 2-1 win over the Thunder Bay Chill on Friday night. Not only did the Crows melt the Chill for three points, but they also tallied a win for their stadium neighbor, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.
Dubbed the Gene Party, Friday’s festivities featured a denim print kit and a halftime selfie with a crowd full of denim. The event was inspired by Evan Menk, son of City member Scott Menk, who received a gene therapy treatment at Masonic Children’s. [Click here to read more and to donate to the cause.]
The Gene Party was a great success, and @FOX9 was there to get the full story.https://t.co/jTXjNFDITc
— Minneapolis City SC (@mplscitysc) July 13, 2024
Fans who were there to watch the soccer (in their weather-adapted denim outfits) were also treated to a pretty good game.
After losing to the Chill 3-2 on Canadian soil last Friday, the 5th, the Crows got their revenge at Edor Nelson Field with two first half goals. It took Mizael Harris only 10 minutes to find the opener, a quick volley past the Chill’s goalkeeper, player/coach Francesco Leuzzi. Minneapolis keeper Evan Siefken came up with a few big stops to keep the Chill off the board, despite a few of the attacking runs that made the Canadians successful the previous Friday. Just before the halftime whistle, Sidike Jabateh found a lane in a crowded box through which he smashed a volley into the net to double the hosts’ lead.
Despite a flurry of chances in the second half, which included a few nutmeg spectacles, the Crows were held to their 2-0 lead until the 85th minute when Loris Tsiatsipy sent a ball past Siefken into the bottom right corner. Siefken kept busy for the remaining minutes of regulation, plus six minutes of stoppage time, to close out the game without another goal.
The win was a great way to close out the Crows’ home season, one that started with some ups and downs. While Thunder Bay will continue on to conference playoffs, City capped off their league season on Sunday with a 2-0 road win over St Croix Legends. City still has the MN Super Cup final (against St Croix) to look forward to on Thursday, July 25. Northern Lights will be there to provide live updates and recap the action.
