USL2 Central Conference Quarter-Finals Recap

Two games out of four are finished and we know who will play in the Conference Semi-Final in Peoria, IL on Saturday night. After a tough fought contest on Thursday afternoon Minneapolis City SC secured their spot in the second round of the playoffs. Later on Thursday night in much cooler weather hosts Peoria City punched their ticket to the second round with a massive come from behind win against Sueño FC.

Peoria Pod

Minneapolis City SC 2 – 0 West Virginia United

Two first half goals were all it took for Minneapolis City to knock off West Virginia United in the first round of the playoffs. West Virginia never gave up in what was a back and forth match for 80 minutes of the contest.

Following a foul inside the box the Crows were sent to the spot and Hakeem Morgan converted from the spot to put in the first goal. Minutes later Nathan Donovan doubled the lead for the Crows with just four minutes remaining in the opening half.

In the second half WVU got the first big chance, forcing Daniel Sessler to make a huge save to keep the two goal lead. Both clubs put in a few very good chances forcing the other goalkeeper to make astounding saves to keep the match at 2-0. As the half wore on West Virginia kept peppering Minneapolis City SC with constant chances as they put on a desperate flurry of shots to break the scoreline. But City's defence prevented West Virginia from getting anything in goal, ending the match at 2-0 and sending Minneapolis to the Conference Semi-Finals.

Peoria City 3 – 2 Sueño FC

Peoria was home to not one but two wild and crazy football matches at Shea Stadium on Thursday night. With the first half deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the break, the second half would somehow prove to be more entertaining. An early Sueño goal put the visitors up early on but a red card to their own player proved to be the difference. Peoria City came storming back with two goals to take a massive win and head on to Saturday night.

Just like the first match the second one opened with back and forth play and neither side really able to gain an early foothold. That changed when Kevin Rivera ripped an absolute banger in the 20th minute to put the hosts up 1-0. Less than 15 minutes later Luke Van Heukelum picked up a loose ball inside the six and sent it past the Peoria keeper on his far side to put the match to 1-1. Three minutes later Peoria was given the chance to take the lead after being awarded a penalty, but Djibognihou Koulai shot was stymied by goalkeeper Maxwell Ionita.

Sueño came out swinging in the second half which paid off very quickly when Charlie Norkett pounced on a rebound and popped it in at close range to give the visitors the lead. Following Tyler Vilet's sending off in the 62nd minute things changed dramatically in favour of the hosts. Former Crow Preston Kipnusu got on the end of the ensuing free kick and erased the difference with a 64th minute header. Kipnusu saved the day for Peoria in the 85th minute when he prevented a ball from going out at the end line and sending it to Geremi Onentia, who finished the play to give Peoria a huge come from behind win.

Friday's action, Flint Pod

After a day of great football in Peoria the Central Conference playoffs take a day off in Illinois but continued in Flint, MI, home of the Flint City Bucks. The matches were moved from Kettering University's Atwood Stadium, indoors, to the Legends Sports Complex, half an hour south in Brighton, MI, because of the weather and smoke.

Steel City FC 1-0 Northern Indiana FC

Steel City won the Great Forest Division while Northern Indiana finished second in the Valley. The team from Pittsburgh dominated the game and got the critical goal just before halftime through central midfielder Johan Nissen-Lie after a neat exchange of passing down the right wing.

Flint City Bucks 2-0 FC Buffalo

Flint City Bucks faced Great Forest Division runner-up FC Buffalo in the fourth and final Central Conference Quarter-Final. The Bucks went ahead in the 42nd minute through Remi Ogunbiade, finishing off a through ball in the center from right back Jace Foster. The game was nailed shut in the 63rd minute as Carles Zomeno curled a free kick in from 20 yards out on the angle of the penalty area.