Minnesota Cranes triumph over FC Minneapolis in a 4:5 season opener victory!

FC Minneapolis's Darius Sango scores twice to become league's first goal scorer

UpdatedSunday July 26, 2015 byAmerican Premier League.

It was a bright and typical summer evening with the golden sun hovering over Hopkins High School Stadium when FC Minneapolis, Minnesota Cranes and the game officials majestically walked down the aisle from the Lindbergh Center to the stadium turf for the two teams to meet in an American Premier League regular season campaign for the first time.

Earlier this year towards the end of spring, FC Minneapolis fell 6 to 8 goals at Hazelwood Park during their preseason friendly with Minnesota Cranes so they eagerly looked to this evening to redeem their honor by winning at home.

Unfortunately, the visitors were not going to easily give their honor away without a fight and this was evident when Minnesota's Gaylord directed a well-timed header to make it 1:1 at the 17th minute mark into the first half.

Previous to that, Darius Sango had beaten the visitor’s defense and goal keeper to score an empty net which set the home team fans on fire. At that point FC Minneapolis was leading and dominating the game until Minnesota's Henry curved in a well-timed cross to find Gaylord who converted it by directing a beautiful header into the corners of the net.

Within just 7 minutes, Minnesota Cranes scored twice to give the visitors a 3:1 lead in the first half of the game.

FC Minneapolis didn’t lose heart! They kept their formation and shape. Benjamin Lee who was playing as the team’s wide man from the left cut out quickly and found Jonathan Mulenda whose efforts at goal ended by a deflection that sent the ball past the goal line hence the referee awarding FC Minneapolis a corner kick.

Ian Sendi was the man to take it. At that point he had to either deliver a strong ball into the box to create panic for the defenders or give it some height to create heading situations but he chose the first option and it worked; directing a strong ball to Alain Njipwo who side footed it in with his right foot to score a 2nd goal for the home team.

With only 11 minutes left, Darius Sango received a good ball from FC’s Derek Hutson right into the opponent’s box and he acted selfless laying it for Jonathan Mulenda who scored a stunner to equalizer before the half time break.

At the beginning of the second half, it was even, still 3:3. Minnesota Cranes made some changes removing Edger for Deogracious.

The game intensity was high and particularly hard to predict how it was going to end.

Deogracious who had joined the campaign in the second half received a good through ball from his side’s Middlefield and he wasn’t hesitant, for he immediately advanced at FC’s goal beating Samuel Otieno to give Minnesota Cranes a lead that they had wished for.

It was 20 minutes to the final whistle and the hosts were still trailing 3:4. Tactics of every sort had been employed and it seemed like it was now left unto player’s individual brilliance to change the trend of the game.

Ian Sendi switched wings with Benjamin Lee running back to pick the ball from FC’s left back Shawn Ndobedi and quickly passing to Allain Njipwo who found Darious Sango with a quick through ball and quickly supporting him in the opponents’ box but Darius chose to go it alone finding the top corner of the net giving FC Minneapolis a late half equalizer making it 4:4.

Some changes had to be made on the Minneapolis side. Nicholas Hoff came in for Ian Sendi, and Luis Hodjson for Benjamin Lee.

Minnesota Cranes finally found a goal in the last ten minutes of the 2nd half scored by Deogracious that sealed a final score of 5:4 to give the Maplewood side an away victory that pushed them to the top of the American Premier League table.

They will be playing Midnimo FC this week at Hazzelwood Park while FC Minneapolis will be in North Dakota playing FC Fargo at Moorhead.

Despite the defeat, FC Minneapolis exhibited a high level of sports man ship forming up after the game to applause the fans who had turned up for the game.

They even spared a few minutes to give autographs to those that wanted them before returning to the dressing room.

They will play their next home game on August 1st with Midnimo FC, 6:00pm at Hopkins High School Stadium. Tickets for this game will be available online and at the gate.