Dakota Fusion 4-1 Joy AC
Takuto Yamaguchi (from the subtropical plains of Japan via Arizona Western Community College) added to his conference-leading goal tally in emphatic fashion on a stormy Wednesday night, scoring a hat trick in 44 minutes to push his Fusion team into second place pending Saturday's games. In truth, the score could have been even glossier, but for an 89th-minute consolation for the visitors by Given Aboni.
A scrappy opening 7 mins saw the first chances fall to Joy on the counter, but the target was missed on both occasions. Fusion would then have a chance flagged off for offside. A further chance just missed a connection in the Joy penalty area for the hosts. Joy pressed further forward, but Fusion were the first to register a corner in the 17th minute. Played short, it was basically wasted. A counter in the 20th minute resulted in a point-blank stop by the Joy keeper Deven Leonard and another corner, recycled for a third, which was slotted home at the far post by Keidin Green for the game's first goal. Leonard was easily the most accomplished player in the part of the game, but Yamaguchi's first arrived in the 33rd minute after a period of patient build-up play, and a one-two set him up for a tap-in, and Fusion didn't look back. His second was much more direct, chipping past Leonard after a direct ball into the left back berth.
The hat trick came in the 77th minute, after another neat exchange of passes down the Fusion left wing and some more despairing defense, this time by half-time substitute goalkeeper Derick Stevens.
Elsewhere in the Northland
Sioux Falls Thunder 2-2 Siouxland United
Duluth FC 4-2 Sioux Falls Thunder
João Magalhaes scored all four of Duluth's goals.
Joy AC 1-5 Siouxland United
Blizzard 2-2 Fusion
Standings
As you can see, the results this week make it very difficult to conceive of a playoff quartet which isn't Siouxland, Duluth, Fusion and Blizzard in some order.
