Duluth FC vs. LaCrosse Aris FC
Public Schools Stadium | Duluth, MN
June 29th, 2022 | Game #12 Current 2022: Records (W-L-T):
Duluth: 6-0-0; 4-2-0 at home/on the road
LC Aris: 2-2-0; 1-7-0 at home/on the road
Starting XI: Martin Grzywa, Sam Thornton, Blake Perry, Felipe Oliveira, Felipe Arteaga, Kostyantyn Domaratskyy, Cian Gantley, Andres Solares, Jake Starling, Jessie Juarez, Michael Garrihy.
Goals:
43’ – Felipe Oliveira (DFC)
45’ – Felipe Arteaga (DFC)
66’ – Sam Thornton (DFC)
88’ – Paul Bobai (DFC)
It was a beautiful and brisk day up in Duluth today and it was terrific weather for hosting LaCrosse Aris FC who allowed us to have the home game. This was agreed upon after the original home game in Duluth was forfeited on account of some transportation issues. However, they were able to make the trek today and they came to play physically. Thankfully so did the BlueGreens, after their unexpected loss last Wednesday the fellas were more than motivated to come out on their home turf tonight and take it to them. Which is exactly what they did, scoring two in the first half and two in the second making it a onesided 4-0 win. The score could’ve been alot worse than that have not some of the guys’ shots gone wide. Nevertheless, a victory and the chance to take down Med City are now in their sights.
The game started out as most do with tons of energy. The BlueGreens wasted no time at all getting the ball down the field and attempting the first strike on the net. This would be accompanied by many others in the first 15 minutes of the game. Our defense was the backbone of this offense with the solid core of Starling, Grzywa, and Gantley. They were able to maintain the back line and not let any defenders get behind them. They also went on to attack at the midfield and got plenty of steals there as well. A very solid game plan executed to near perfection left the ball out of our net, and for the most part, our side of the field. As we kept attacking LC Aris was also able to sneak in a few chances and halfway decent looks at the net but nothing close to what we were getting consistently. These chances were mostly spoiled by high and shaky shots but a couple of missed passes really hurt us as well.
The continuous barrage by Duluth finally pays off in the 43rd minute of the game when an interception by the defense turns into a nifty pass that splits three defenders. The pass would spring open Felipe Oliveira who gets a good angle and bangs it home for the first goal of the game. The BlueGreens were feeling it and didn’t want to stop there before the half. They were able to get the ball back right away and into Sam Thornton’s hands, metaphorically speaking, he then dished it off to a cutting Blake Perry. Perry would lose his footing a little but his awareness was still sharp. He was able to flick the ball out to a helping Felipe Arteaga who finishes it off, putting them up at half 2-0.
LC Aris would start out the second half more assertive as they would make the first strike on the net of the half and seemed like they were going to keep it up. As the half went on their energy would keep up, however, their offensive possession would not. Duluth’s defense simply would not break which would lead to outlet passes and a solid idea or chance at the net. They would get it back and try to get it up the field only to be stopped yet again, then repeat. Alot of their energy also resulted in some cheap fouls and a couple of yellow cards which did them no favor. Duluth, the same as the first half, was doing almost everything right other than finishing off the play near the net.
Sam Thornton was one player who had so many chances to bury one in net thorough the game, at some point you could have sworn he scored at least two of them. He is, however, finally able to bury one off a great clear and pass by Blake Perry but also great timing and spacial awareness by himself. LC Aris was able to get a few chances down the stretch and almost got one on the board. But it was BlueGreens, off an incredible Cian Gantley clear right to Rory Carlson who slides it across to Paul Bobai to finish it off and put Duluth up 4-0 in the 88th-minute mark.
Duluth’s next match will be held back at home this Saturday, July 9th against Med City FC at the Public Schools Stadium at 7 PM.
By: Ryan Tigner
