NPSL North Round-Up: Week 4

Week 4:

Wednesday:

Minneapolis City SC vs Duluth FC

The only two sides to ever win the North Conference had a heated battle on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. Sidney Warden put Duluth up first in the 41st minute giving them a one goal lead heading into the half. Mohamed Youssef scored for City in the 47th followed by William Kidd in the 52nd to put the Crows up 2-1.

Warden would earn a brace for himself with another goal in the 52nd minute to knot the match at 2-2. However as the match headed for a draw the Crows Brayan Lopez scored in the 80th minute to give the hosts a win.

Friday:

Med City FC vs Joy Athletic

On a down slope Joy Athletic traveled to Rochester to face Med City FC. The home side came in unbeaten while the away side has come in off a loss and draw in their last two. For the visitors it was not to be on the night. Jack Hilton-Jones scored for Med City in the 31st minute then Mazeed Aro-Lambo scored again for the Mayhem in the 52nd minute.

Joy’s only goal would come from Emmanuel Iwe in the 60th minute but Kolton Prater scored the third goal for Med City in the 78th to give the Mayhem a 3-1 win.

Saturday:

Dakota Fusion FC vs Sioux Falls Thunder

The Thunder came into Fusion’s home opener with two losses from two, and the home side were sitting on three losses from three and an ugly double digit minus goal difference. Stephenson Storm put the Thunder ahead in the 19th minute and finished off the scoring in the 90th minute. Juan Mackrey got two goals in between and the home side at least avoided a shutout with a 75th minute goal from Kyle Bleidt.

La Crosse Aris vs Duluth FC

Aris hosted another match from Arcadia High School rather than the sides typical home field of Logan High School in La Crosse. Without a stream it’s a bit hard to judge how the match went in one hundred percent fashion but Duluth took a 3-0 away win after a tough outing on Wednesday. Sidney Warden took home another brace with goals in the 45th and 90th minutes while Gloire Luwara bisected that with a 70th minute goal for the BlueGreens.

After four weeks of play Minneapolis City looks to be running away with another NPSL North title as the Crows are 4-0-0 with 12 points. Med City follows closely at 3-0-0 with 9 points as the 2019 Runners-Up look to claim their first title in conference history. Duluth FC bring up third at 2-1-0 with 6 points, while the title or a playoff spot aren’t out of reach for the BlueGreens it will be imperative that they win every match they should and don’t drop any points.

Week 5:

Wednesday:

Med City FC vs La Crosse Aris

Two matches open the week on Wednesday night, the first being Med City and La Crosse Aris at Rochester Regional Stadium. Another match that should see Aris be dominated from start to finish, a win is necessary tonight as Med City faces Conference leading Crows on Saturday night.

Joy Athletic Club vs Sioux Falls Thunder

This is a match that the newcomers at Joy should win, given current form but Storm and the Thunder will enter the match boosted by their road win in Moorhead and ready to remind Joy of their own up and down form.

Saturday:

Minneapolis City vs Med City FC

A battle between the top two sides in the North Conference. If Med City wins on Wednesday night that will put both sides even heading into their Saturday clash. Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis will be the place to be this week as the winner will more than likely leave with the undisputed lead in the North Conference and a leg up on winning the title.

Dakota Fusion FC vs Aris La Crosse SC

Aris travel up to Moorhead with hopes of continuing the home side’s retched start to the season and marking another step in the own improvement. Fusion will hope for more solid defense and more reliable discipline than has been the case so far.

Sioux Falls Thunder vs Duluth FC

The BlueGreens should have a happy road trip to Sioux Falls, and it will most likely be down to Duluth’s defense stopping a hot Stephenson Storm, versus the Thunder struggling to contain Sidney Warden.