Crows draw with man-down RKC Third Coast in USL2 season opener
Minneapolis City SC and RKC Third Coast opened their 2025 USL League Two season last Sunday at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis. Unfortunately for both clubs, the match ended in a 3-3 draw after a series of late lead changes, sending both teams back to the dressing room in a less-than-jubilant mood.
After having massive success in the NPSL with three straight division titles, the Crows have struggled since entering USL2 in the 2022 season. City has finished no higher than second bottom in the Deep North Division over the previous three seasons, but in a new look Heartland Division the Crows aim to get back to their NPSL success. Minneapolis head coach Justin Oliver said, “To be honest USL2 is head and shoulders above NPSL so it’s been an adjustment period for the club but we are looking forward to doing better this season and in the future we want to get back to competing for championships like we were in NPSL but the quality of opposition is very high.”
RKC Third Coast meanwhile has been a top contender in their previous two seasons, making the playoffs in 2023 and missing them by just two points in 2024. The ‘Gulls will be shooting for a top two finish to make the USL2 playoffs in a newly reformatted Central Conference Heartland Division that sees quite a few changes, including longtime member Des Moines Menace moving to the Great Plains division.
RKC opened the match with a quick goal just two minutes into the match, with John Wandschneider nabbing the goal for the visitors. Wandschneider would not be on the pitch much longer as he was handed a yellow in the 8th minute followed by a second yellow and being sent off in the 34th minute. Even down one man though, RKC showed the boisterous crowd they were in control, before doubling their lead with a late first half goal from Jaden Prado.
Just two minutes into the second half, Jackson Kirsch headed up to the spot and put the Crows on the board, cutting the RKC lead in half at the 47th minute.
It takes a PK but @mplscitysc.bsky.social is on the board
— Northern Lights Football (@lightsfootball.com) 2025-05-18T23:45:08.807Z
Just before the 50th minute the Crows added a second goal from Preston Kipnusu to draw the match level, and later in the half Kirsch stepped up to the spot again and struck home to put the hosts up 3-2 and secure himself a brace. “It feels good to score a brace in the opener, said Jackson Kirsch. “I’m always happy to help the team in any way. I was glad to get off to a good start and grow some confidence for some continued output this season.”
But the lead was not to last as with 10 minutes plus stoppage to play, RKC Third Coast’s Nicholas Pendleton scored on a thundering shot from inside the box to draw the match level once again at 3-3, where it would end.
“It’s a tough one to swallow not holding on to the result but sometimes that is football,” Jackson Kirsch said. “I am proud of the lads for fighting and being resilient especially being 2-0 down at halftime. There is still much to be proud of.”
“For the USL2 season we are going to go game by game and put our best foot forward each time and try to leave with 3 points,” said Minneapolis head coach Justin Oliver. “We have goals and ambitions of being a top team in our conference and making the playoffs but you don’t do that by talking about it, you do it by have a process you trust in and buy into each day / game to try and get the best possible result.”