Soccer:
Minnesota Thunder reaches U.S. Open Cup semifinals
Robert Whitman, Special To The Star Tribune
August 25, 2005
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PARKVILLE, MO. -- Johnny Menyongar took his turn in the spotlight
Wednesday for the Minnesota Thunder in the quarterfinal round of the
U.S. Open Cup, scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City
Wizards.
The USL First Division Thunder claimed its third victory over a
top-division Major League Soccer team in the competition. Minnesota
defeated Real Salt Lake in the third round and the Colorado Rapids in
the fourth round. But this time the Thunder knocked off the 2004 U.S.
Open Cup champions.
Menyongar would have had all three goals had the Thunder's second goal
not been ruled an own goal put in by Wizards defender Shavar Thomas.
Menyongar's shot deflected off the foot of Thomas and squirted into
the net in the 54th minute.
Menyongar's second goal in the 58th minute all but ended the Wizards'
hopes. Thunder midfielder Jeff Matteo played a ball through the middle
of the Wizards defense with no Kansas City defender close enough to
stop Menyongar, whose shot from 15 yards beat Wizards goalie Will
Hesmer.
Menyongar, top, jumps into the arms of defender Chand Dombrowski as
they and the rest of the team celebrate Menyongar's first-half
goal.Shane KeyserAssociated Press"It's all about teamwork. I can't
score goals and be a better player [without teammates]," Menyongar
said.
The Thunder took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute when Menyongar took Jay
Alberts' pass near the top of the penalty area, stepped around Wizards
midfielder Alex Zotinca and shot from about 16 yards. The goal was the
Thunder's only shot of the first half.
The Thunder appeared to retreat to its end of the field for a few
minutes, but mainly the Wizards controlled possession of the ball
trying to get a quick equalizer.
"We don't like to pack it in against MLS teams," Thunder coach Buzz
Lagos said. "We like to see if we can go out and play soccer."
The biggest concern Lagos had was defending the Wizards, but the
Wizards played only six starters.
"I was glad Josh Wolff was out. He has been so hot and so dynamic,"
Lagos said. "He would have caused us trouble. They brought in Chris
Klein in the second half. I thought we contained him pretty well. He
was another guy we were worried about."
• The Thunder has loaned forward Melvin Tarley to Real Salt Lake of
Major League, Lagos said. Tarley, who has scored six goals in U.S.
Open Cup games this year, can be recalled by the Thunder at any time.
Lagos said Tarley would be recalled for the Thunder's next Open Cup
game.
• Thanks to the Chicago Fire's 2-1 victory over the Rochester Raging
Rhinos, the Thunder earned $10,000 for being the last USL First
Division team left in the tournament.
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