Duluth FC vs. Med City

Rochester, MN

6.22.19 | Game 9

Current 2019 Records (W-L-T):

Duluth: 2-0-2; 3-1-0 at home/on the road

Med City: 2-0-2; 4-0-1 at home/on the road

Lineup: Sullivan Lauderdale, James Westfield, Soham Kathuria, Jake Starling, Brooks Rice, Lucas Jacobs, Ronaldo Fortune, George Proctor, Damia Viader, Dorian Barberio, Carlyle Junior

Substitutions: Liam Condone for Soham Kathuria, Julio Neto for Liam Condone, Nico Torres for Ronaldo Fortune, Aidan Hill for Dorian Barberio, Adrian Leal for James Westfield, Jordan Alonge for Carlyle Junior

Goals:

’71 – Niklas Rossler (MCFC)

’77 – Francisco Neto (MCFC)

’86 – Lucas Jacobs (DFC)

’88 – Jack Hilton Jones (MCFC)

Duluth FC suffered their first NPSL loss of 2019 in a 3-1 loss to Med City FC this weekend. The match up pitted the conference’s two undefeated clubs against one another in a late season match which could help decide who moves on to the playoffs, with the two sides having previously met in a 1-1 draw earlier in the summer.

The first half, which would end 0-0, saw both sides create several chances. However, both clubs’ goalkeepers performed well and did what they needed to keep the ball out.

The second half would prove more eventful. After almost half an hour of steadfast defending from both sides, Med City broke the deadlock thanks to a strike from Niklas Rossler in the 71st minute. Med City would find their second goal mere minutes later when a tough but deserved penalty was called after the ball was handled in Duluth’s 18-yard box. Francisco Neto, Med City’s star in the attack this season, converted it well and made the game 2-0 in the 77th minute.

Duluth would find the beginnings of a comeback in the 86th minute when Lucas Jacobs scored his second goal of the campaign to make it 2-1. Jacobs previous goal came in a 2-1 win in Minneapolis.

Duluth’s comeback was cut short, however, as Duluth’s newfound energy in turn provided Med City with the chance to score a third two minutes later. The match would end 3-1, with Med City now the only remaining undefeated club in the NPSL North.

Saturday’s result marks the first time Duluth has conceded a goal in four games, having only conceded last in their 2-1 win in Minneapolis earlier in the season. It is also the most goals Duluth has conceded in one game this season.

Saturday’s result will leave Duluth with 20 points, while Med City will have 21 and Minneapolis City will have 22 after a 1-0 win over the TwinStars on the same day. With Duluth and Minneapolis facing off in the second to last match day of the season and Med City playing Minneapolis in the final day of play, the race for the title and playoff spots of the NPSL North is alive and well. In addition, Duluth will have two matches against La Crosse Aris in the third to last and last weeks of play.

Duluth’s nine game stretch without a loss, starting from the final match of last season, a 1-0 win over Med City, is the longest in the club’s history. With three games left in the season, it remains very much in Duluth’s hands to earn another playoff run and to win the title.

Duluth travel to La Crosse next weekend, June 30th, to face La Crosse Aris in a must win match. This final away match will then transition to a short run of home matches, with Duluth facing Minneapolis on July 7th and La Crosse Aris on the 12th.