Duluth FC vs. Minnesota United U19’s
Public Schools Stadium | Duluth, MN
June 7, 2023 | MN Super Cup
Current Super Cup records (WLD):
Duluth FC: 0-0-1
MNUFC U19’s: 1-0-1
Starting XI: Alex Paredes, Ken Pryde, Jake Starling, Dylan Zavatini, Colin o’Mahony, Paul Bobai, Andres Solares, Felipe Oliveira, Cian Gantley, Tyler Limmer, Kostya Domaratskyy
Substitutions: Santiago Erazo for Zavatini, Rory Doyle for Oliveira, Felipe Santos for Gantley, Conor Behan for Bobai
Goals:
59’ – MNUFC U19’s
71’ – Tyler Limmer (DFC)
Duluth FC welcomed the Minnesota United U19 team to Public Schools Stadium on June 7 to kick off the BlueGreens’ debut in the Minnesota Super Cup, a competition that pits the top teams from across Minnesota’s lower league scene against one another. Duluth went on to draw the Loons 1-1.
Duluth’s starting eleven featured plenty of local connections with current or alum players from UW Superior (Alex Paredes), St. Scholastica (Ken Pryde) and Lake Superior College (Felipe Oliveira) all making the eleven.
While Jake Starling is not a locally based player, the captain and defender also made a bit of local history as the night marked his 45th appearance for Duluth FC, making him the club’s all-team appearance leader since joining the NPSL in 2017.
The first half saw both teams create chances, though Duluth held more of the ball. Neither side could figure out the other’s defense, however, and it remained 0-0 by halftime thanks to good work from both goalkeepers, including a charging save on the edge of the box from Paredes. Duluth almost had an opener when Tyler Limmer struck the crossbar close to halftime.
Duluth made immediate adjustments at halftime, starting with the introduction of Santiago Erazo into the backline. While Duluth started the half well, it was the MNUFC U19’s who struck first, scoring after a risky turnover on the edge of the box.
Duluth’s response came 12 minutes later. The BlueGreens had been pressing for a goal for some time when the ball finally landed at Tyler Limmer’s feet, left of the goal. The striker backheeled the ball, sneaking it past the keeper and nearby defenders as it found a new home in the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Both teams went for it as the game concluded, with yellow cards shared by both Loons and BlueGreens as the tempo raised higher and higher. Felipe Santos and Conor Behan came in and helped keep the Duluth attack upbeat, creating dangerous chances and helping Duluth earn a series of late corner kicks. Neither team could score a secod goal, however, as Duluth drew for the first time this season in all competitions.
This means that Minnesota United top the group with four points, while Duluth are in second with one point. If Duluth wins or draws with Minneapolis City in the final group game, they will advance to the knockout stage.
