Dakota Fusion FC 5-1 Sioux Falls Thunder FC
On a stormy Wednesday night, Sioux Falls Thunder brought their highly settled line-up up I-29. 6 players have started three times and Joseph Valler has started all four of their games so far. In all only 16 players have started a game.
The entire region from north of Fargo down to Pierre, SD was under a tornado watch. Player introductions, and indeed play itself for , played out against the ever present threat of lightning which would have caused a suspension in play amidst the exposed field and metal bleachers.
By the 34th minute, Fusion had had six corners, with all the possession in the attacking half which that indicates. From recycled play after one such corner, James Hatton delicately bisected the Thunder defense and left winger Andreas Mortensen slotted home for the only goal of the first half.
Ten minutes after the half, Filip Barta made it two off another piece of close quarters passing down the Fusion left.
Three minutes after that, a slightly odd sequence where Fusion had a strong shout for a penalty kick, awarded instead with a corner. The ball eventually dropped to Magnus Davidsen, who smashed it in at the near post.
Thunder substituted their goalkeeper, and virtually the first action of Kokhi Takeichi's day was to pluck Fusion's fourth goal out of his net. The goalscorer, Takuto Yamaguchi.
The host's last goal of the game came via a penalty kick, dispatched off a curved run-up by Keidin Green.
By half way through the second half, the severe weather had receded and Moorhead High's Jim Gotta Stadium was living up to its sun field reputation, at least for the defending Fusion players.
Sioux Falls Thunder take an attacking free kick, with the defenders also fighting the sun during Dakota Fusion v Sioux Falls Thunder in Moorhead, MN on June 3rd 2026 (Photo by Tim Abbott for Northland Soccer Journal)
The consolation for a night where Thunder refused to stop fighting, even as the scoreline slid away from them, was a late penalty kick dispatched by Aidan Bennett in the 87th minute.
Dakota Fusion head coach Kristoff Burkett spoke to Northland Soccer Journal after the end of the game.
Great all round performance from the boys last night after two tough results to start the season.
The conference is extremely tight this year and every single point is valuable.
Good night from Moorhead.
Dakota Fusion FC 2-0 Minnesota Blizzard FC
Bonus coverage from the Red River Valley in the form of a photo essay.
Blizzard miss a chance to equalize in the 65th minute when their penalty kick is saved by Evan Harty. (Photo by Tim Abbott for Northland Soccer Journal)
The final measure of success, Keidin Green converts a Dakota Fusion PK in the 87th minute. (Photo by Tim Abbott for Northland Soccer Journal)
With a clock that is incapable of triple digits, we came perilously close to meltdown.
Earlier in the Northland
Duluth FC 1-1 Minnesota Blizzard FC
Standings
Coming Up
Wednesday
Sioux Falls Thunder FC v Siouxland United FC
Dakota Fusion FC v Joy AC
Saturday
Duluth FC v Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Minnesota Blizzard FC v Dakota Fusion FC
Joy AC v Siouxland United FC
