July 07, 2024
Crows Soar High Above The Loons
In 2023, the first ever Minnesota Super Cup was played. The Super Cup is a tournament created to set the stage for the best men’s pre-professional soccer in Minnesota. The tournament starts with six teams and ends with one. In the first year, Minneapolis City fell to Minnesota United FC MLS Next Pro U19. This year, Minneapolis City wanted revenge.
Sunday, July 7th at 6:00 pm, Minneapolis City had home field advantage and hosted Minnesota United MLS Next Pro U19 in the final group stage game of Super Cup. Prior to this game, both teams beat Rochester FC to advance. At least 400 spectators flocked to watch the Minneapolis City Crows play on Edor Nelson Field at Augsburg University. This was the highest attendance for any Minneapolis City game this year. The Crows were delighted in the attention even though most of the fans were there for Minnesota United’s Academy team.
The atmosphere was electric. The fans were incredibly involved in cheering on their chosen teams. There were chants and jeers when goals were scored, and mistakes were made. It was a hard-fought match between the two highly skilled teams. The first goal was scored by Eli Goldman just 50 seconds into the match creating the fastest scored goal in Minneapolis City history. Eli Goldman went on to score two more goals, making it his second hattrick in the two seasons he has been with the club. Alongside Goldman, Sideke Jabateh and Henri Tophoven added their own goals to the mix. Minnesota United FC MLS Next Pro U19 finally got on the scoreboard in the 96th minute with one lone goal. In speaking with Megan Kaczmarek, City’s Game Day statistician, during the game, she was “so happy to see the improvement of shots on frame and chances as well as a higher percentage of challenges won and passes completed” by the Crows.
The Crow’s General Manager Matt VanBenschoten shared that this was the most he has ever seen fans involved in a game. It has not been the best season for Minneapolis City so far so scoring five goals in one match was thrilling for all – even the United fans. Everyone loves a good soccer game. One of the goals was a bicycle kick, which you do not see very often at this level of play or even in the MLS. In the end, Minneapolis City FC won 5-1.
At the end of every game the Citizens (Minneapolis City FC’s supporter’s group) vote on a “Golden Crow” who is the player that most demonstrates the most passion of the game. For this game, the Golden Crow was awarded to Eli Goldman.
Minneapolis City FC is set to face St. Croix Legends in the Super Cup final on Sunday, July 25th at Macalester College at 6:30 pm. The address of the field is 179 Snelling Avenue in Saint Paul. This would be a great outing for the whole family. There will be food trucks, activities for kids, and more. Tickets are only $12 each and on sale online. Be sure to buy before the event as you cannot purchase tickets at the gate.