Thunder’s Draw with Vancouver Kills Playoff Hopes

Minnesota 1-1 Vancouver

Melvin Tarley raised his 2009 goal total to 7.

The Minnesota Thunder saw their playoff chances dashed on Friday night in front of 3,429 fans at the National Sports Center. The game was also televised nationwide on Fox Soccer Channel’s Friday Night USL Game.

The team took on the 7th place Vancouver Whitecaps, who owned that last playoff spot in USL-1. The Thunder, who sat in 9th place – a full 12 points below Vancouver, would have needed a near miracle to see themselves into the playoffs. Minnesota would have had to win all their remaining games while Vancouver would have needed to lose all their remaining games.

Vancouver drew first blood in this one even though the Thunder had the run of play most of the first half. In the 38th minute, Wes Knight took the ball down the left flank of Minnesota. Andrew Peterson marked the Whitecap defender until he reached the the end line. Knight flicked the ball against Peterson and gave him a shove out of bounds which went undetected by head referee, Ben Chouaf. With Peterson on the ground Knight headed towards goal. As Jon Greenfield adjusted to obstruct a direct path to goal for Knight, the Vancouver right back chipped a perfect cross to Marcus Haber who was making a run to the far post. Rich Costanzo’s was no match of Haber’s height and jump prowess. He elevated himself over Costanzo and nodded perfectly to the far side of goal and past a helpless Nic Platter.

The Thunder struggled for the same amount of possession in the second half. Although both teams had chances it wasn’t until the 87th minute that Minnesota answered the Vancouver goal.

Ricardo Sanchez's assist to Tarley pushed him into 2nd place in the league for assists with 7.

Ricardo Sanchez took a corner that was awarded after the Vancouver defense cleared a ball off the end line. Sanchez ripped his cross into the box and second half substitute Melvin Tarley found enough of the ball with his head to redirect it down and into the goal for the Minnesota equalizer.

Minnesota continued to press but was unable to find the game winner.

The goal for Minnesota was Tarley’s 7th of the season and oddly 4 of those 7 goals have been scored from headers. Tarley is a forward whose history of scoring has been primarily with his feet.

The one-two combination of Sanchez and Tarley brought them both up in the USL standings for points and Tarley for goals. Sanchez is now in 6th place in the league for points with 17 and Tarley sits in 10th place with 15 points.

Sanchez is now 2nd in assists in the league with 7, one behind Wes Knight of Vancouver who has 8. Sanchez also ranks second in the league for shots taken at 61.

Tarley has moved into a 3-way tie for 7th place in the league for goals scored.

Minnesota’s next game will be on the road Sunday evening at Charleston N.C. as they take on the Battery, a game that can be seen on USLLive.com.

The Thunder’s next home game is next Thursday, September, 10th at the National Sports Center against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Game time 7:00 pm.