Johnny Menyongar
Vital To Minnesota Thunder In Early Season Successes
Johnny Menyongar has been troubling
A-league defenses for the last four years with his quick touch and
even quicker first step. The forward notched 8 goals last year and
has scored 37 in his four years with the Thunder leading into the
2004 campaign.
On Saturday evening he showed the expansion
Edmonton Aviators just how deadly his play can be. Menyongar scored
two goals in leading the Thunder to their first win in their new
home in St. Paul , James Griffin Stadium.
Menyongar wasn’t the only Thunder player to perform well, however,
as the whole team controlled most of the game for the full 90
minutes. “It was a great game today. I had two good chances that I
put away, but besides that it was a team effort. We all worked
together as a team,” said Menyongar after the game.
The Thunder dominated play throughout most of the first half,
generating frequent scoring opportunities. In the 9th minute Johnny
Menyongar collected the ball in the middle of the field and sent a
pass between the Edmonton defenders to the foot of Marshall Morehead
at the top of the box, who turned and drove a shot directly into the
hands of Edmonton ’s goalkeeper, Stankov.
The Thunder continued to control play throughout the
half, threading passes through the Edmonton defense with ease. The
Thunder’s continuous pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Jeff
Matteo’s free kick found the foot of Dustin Branan. His shot was
initially saved by Stankov, but the rebound found its way to Thunder
forward Johnny Menyongar who drove the ball into the far side of the
Aviator goal for a 1-0 lead.
The second half began in much the same way the first
half ended, with the Thunder dictating the pace and style of the
game. Menyongar found the back of the net for his second goal of the
game
when a pass from Jay Alberts found his foot. Menyongar slid past the
Aviators defense down the right side of the field and drove a low
shot past the charging Stankov. The goal came in the 7th minute of
the second half and would prove to be the last of the game.
“We came out lively, went at them right away. Created
some good chances in the first half and had our efforts rewarded
with a nice goal to go up 1-0 at half time,” commented head coach
Buzz Lagos. “We played really well tonight. In the second half we
came at them again, just kept battling. Got an early goal from
Johnny Menyongar and went up 2-0. I don’t think they had a real good
shot on
goal the whole game.”
For his efforts, Johnny was named to the A-League Team
of the Week. He has had a very good start to the season, helping
Minnesota to a 2-1-1 record. He scored the first goal of the season
for the Thunder in their 2-0 triumph over the Calgary Mustangs and,
after only four games, is tied for third in the A-League in point
scoring and tied for second in the league in goal scoring with three
goals and one assist.
Also, he has continued to make his presence felt
defensively, despite playing at the forward position exclusively so
far this season. If his performance so far is any indication, he
could be exhibiting the kind of form he enjoyed in 2000, his first
year with the Thunder, when he lead the A-League in goal scoring.
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