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4
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FT
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0 |  |
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Leonel St. Preux (Dyachenko) 23’
Brian Cvilikas (Arango) 39’ Melvin Tarley (Peterson) 78’ Melvin Tarley (Dyachenko) 82’ |
Not even the rain could cool off the Minnesota Thunder.
Leonel St. Preux and Brian Cvilikas scored in a 16-minute span in the first half, and perennial US Open Cup scorer Melvin Tarley came off the bench and added two late goals as the Thunder rolled past the PDL’s Chicago Fire 4-0 at the National Soccer Center in Blaine, Minn.
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US Open Cup Leading (active players in BOLD) |
Minnesota had been winless on the season heading into its First Round match against Nebraska’s 402, but won its third straight game overall to advance to the Third Round for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2005. Tonight’s win was the second win of the tournament, and it’s only the third time (2004, 2005) in franchise history that they have won more than one Open Cup game in a season.
Rod Dyachenko nearly opened the scoring in the 5th minute for the Thunder, but he couldn’t get a foot on a cross from St. Preux. Fifteen minutes later, though, the roles were reversed and St. Preux finished a cross from Dyachenko — and went sliding into the net along with the ball.
Cvilikas doubled the lead in the 39th, and Tarley finished things off with goals in the 78th and 82nd — the 10th and 11th goals of his career in US Open Cup play. His 11 Open Cup goals moves him into a second place tie with DC United’s Jamie Moreno for the most goals during the Professional Era (1995-present).
Goalkeeper Nic Platter finished with seven saves on the wet night for his fourth shutout of the season, all coming in the past six matches.
Lineups
MINNESOTA: Platter, Arango (Kallman 45), Clements, Greenfield, Peterson, Olum, Bass, Sanchez, Dyachenko, Cvilikas (Tarley 63), Saint-Preux.
CHICAGO FIRE PDL: Schwartz, Sinovic, Ream, Ruthven, Rice, Morrow (Cutshaw 53), Braun, Campbell (Garcia 67), Millien, Adlard (Gehrig 82), Akpan.
Saves: M (Platter) 7; C (Schwartz) 4.
Yellow cards: M Clements (41), M Dyachenko (68), C Adlard (79).
Shots: M 14, CF 6. Fouls: M 7, C 2. Offside: M 1, C 4. Corner kicks: M 7, C 1. Att. — 359.