Any discussion of this game has to begin with Alex Trent, the Kansan who went undefeated in the regular season as Fusion's head coach and subsequently moved down to Sioux City, taking a fair number of players with him. His United team has a strong core of Japanese players from Iowa Western Community College and has started this season undefeated too.
This is the home opener for Fusion, and Kristoff Burkett's Fargo club will be wanting to bounce back after a 3-1 loss against Joy AC.
For much of the first half, it looked like Fusion would indeed bounce back. The hosts scored a lightning-quick double off remarkably similar tactical plays, Takuto Yamaguchi (Arizona Western) from a great cross by his compatriot Keiden Green (College of Idaho) in the 17th minute, and then Dominica's Jervan Matthew (State Fair Community College) off a cross from the Slovakian Filip Barta (NE Community College) after the ball was flipped across the box midway through the 18th. They then also got awarded a free kick inches from the penalty area, but were unable to capitalize. With temperatures at kick-off in the 90s F (that's 30s C), the teams broke for water at the 30-minute mark of both halves. Five minutes later, the visiting Outlaws began their climb back, courtesy of a penalty kick, although the reason was unclear. Japan's Koki Ogawa (Iowa Western) placed it confidently past the Fusion keeper Evan Harty. Let's take a moment to appreciate the 16-year-old Harty's contribution to the game. The kid from Jamestown, an hour and a half west of Fargo, made a point-blank save at 2-1 and could not be faulted for either of the goals that he would eventually concede from open play. When two defenders went for the same ball in the 40th minute and only impeded each other, it was Harty who came through, and the first half ended with the hosts still on top.
Shion Inagaki, another one of the eleven players on the Siouxland United squad who ply their collegiate trade for Iowa Western Community College, had a banner second half performance, scoring twice to put the Outlaws ahead, both were finishes which would grace any level of soccer - the first a curling shot from the edge of the area in the 53rd minute and the second a more direct blast from a similar position in the 82nd minute.
Some odd time-keeping by the ref, who let the clock run during hydration breaks and then didn't add any stoppage time in either half.
I have the utmost respect for the more than 22 amateur players who stepped onto the molten turf of Moorhead High for this game and never once betrayed the fact that it was ungodly hot.
Photos from Tim Abbott of Dakota Fusion (Black) and Siouxland United (Red)
Speaking to Northland Soccer Journal after the game, Coach Alex Trent said
We're not playing at our best right now, but it's encouraging that we're finding ways to get points on the road and in control throughout each game. Some details to clean up, but we will get there.
Elsewhere in the Northland:
Duluth FC 5-0 Joy AC
Joy AC 1-5 Duluth FC
Siouxland United 4-0 Minnesota Blizzard
Sioux Falls Thunder 0-5 Minnesota Blizzard
Coming Up:
Wednesday: Dakota Fusion v Sioux Falls Thunder
Duluth FC v Minnesota Blizzard
Saturday: Dakota Fusion v Minnesota Blizzard
