After kicking off the match at 9:30pm yesterday at the Health East Sports Center in Woodbury, FC Minneapolis, looked very much in control connecting passes and creating goal scoring opportunities for the most part of the first half.
The City Lions had started Jeremiah Morris in goal, with Amoah Kwaku, and Emmanuel Morris as full backs. In the center back, Billie Baye, and Eric Swen Jr. took charge while the Ugandan trialist Michael Sekitoleko took to the middle field as a holder. Alexander James Brent and Ian Sendi settled for the attacking roles throughout the night.
Up top, the Liberian forward Lorestho Banks played in the central part while Francisco Ramirez and Leon Brownell Jr. who was coming back from a three months injury took to the wide attacking flanks.
Trying to connect quick plays in the mid field, James Brent connected with Sendi Ian who tried to find Lorestho Banks with a lofty pass before the ball could be held by the Vlora City FC defender.
The referee called for a hand ball and Leon Brownell Jr. the team’s captain stepped up for the free kick. He curved it to the right but unfortunately, the Vlora goalie pushed it to the corner kick before the returning juggernaut could celebrate his come back.
Michael Ssekitoleko took the corner from the right side of the field and found Billie Baye the center back, with a well weighted cross who found the back of the net and set his side to a party mode until the referee could call halftime with FC Minneapolis leading 1:0.
Coaches Varney Cole, and James Oluranti, the men assisting Ian Sendi from the touchline made some substitution calls in the second half bringing on Justin Moore for Francisco Ramirez and Jude Woode for Leon Brownell Jr.
Towards the middle of the second half, Delkie Williams came in for Kwaku Amoah and Fredrick Quaresma for Michael Ssekitoleko. Vlora City found an equalizer and the game was back to level terms.
Varney Cole pulled Emmanuel Morris off the field for Cyril Kai in the last moments of the second half to mark his final change of the night.
FC Minneapolis looked a bit disoriented and off balance with all these changes and Vlora capitalized on that scoring a second goal and winning 2:1.
The City Lions will return to HealthEast Sports Center on the 20th of December to play Turbo Sports. For all updates and more news follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
