MN Kicks, Strikers, Thunder, NSC Stars

From 10/16/1999
Victory comes at home after three final losses on the road

Blaine, Minn. – The Minnesota Thunder professional soccer team made the most of its first home championship match Saturday, defeating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 2-1 for the A-League title in front of 9,987 fans at the National Sports Center.

The Thunder, who lost championship games to the host team in 1994, ’95 and 3-1 at Rochester last season, won their 13th consecutive game to finish the season 28-6.

“It’s beyond bliss,” said Minnesota forward Amos Magee, who was named championship MVP after setting up both goals. “I can’t say it was worth all the disappointment of losing three times in the final, but it’s so great to finally do it here in front of our fans.”

Forward Gerard Lagos got the home fans into the game by heading home the first goal from point-blank range in the 43rd minute. Magee’s 8-yard shot from the right side caromed off the crossbar, and Lagos nodded the rebound into the lower left corner.

The Thunder doubled their lead less than one minute into the second half on a goal by midfielder Pawel Nowak. After a give-and-go with Magee about 35 yards from the Rochester goal, Nowak nudged the ball past lunging defender Mali Walton and drove into the penalty area before sliding the ball under Rhinos goalkeeper Pat Onstad from 15 yards.

Rochester (27-9) answered 10 minutes later when forward Darren Tilley scored on a left-footed shot from 10 yards. Tilley, who scored all three Rhinos goals in last year’s championship win over Minnesota, controlled a long crossing pass from midfielder Nate Daligcon before slotting the ball into the lower right corner of the net.

The Thunder, who last surrendered a two-goal lead in a 5-4 shootout loss to the El Paso Patriots on July 4, 1998, withstood a furious Rhinos charge in the final minutes.

In the 83rd minute, defender Kalin Bankov cleared away a high ball after goalkeeper John Swallen made a diving kick save on a header by Rochester midfielder Yari Allnutt. Less than one minute later, Bankov slid to knock away a 10-yard side volley by Allnutt.

“We scrapped one out, as usual,” said Swallen, who was named A-League MVP on Friday. “It seems like every time we have a one-goal lead with 10 minutes to play, we tend to give up those goalmouth scrambles. This year, everything went our way.”

Press Release: May 9, 1996

Sanneh to Join DC United

Forward Tony Sanneh left the Minnesota Thunder this past Wednesday to join D.C. United of Major League Soccer in Washington, D.C. Sanneh, who has played in all five games this season, was in his sixth season with the Thunder. “It was a tough decision to leave my family and my friends,” Sanneh said. “It wasn’t the level of play with the Thunder, as they’ve proven they can play with anybody, but it was playing teams at the level of MLS day in and day out, that led to my decision,” he said. Thunder President/General Manager Peter Wilt credited Sanneh for his years of service. “Tony has contributed greatly to the Thunder’s success over the years,” Wilt said. “He has been a tremendous representative of the Thunder organization on and off the field. His involvement with the Thunder’s inner city soccer program will also be missed. He is certain to be an asset to his new team. We wish him much success as he will be representing Minnesota and the Thunder,” Wilt said.

A St. Paul native, Sanneh played indoor soccer with the Chicago Power and the Milwaukee Wave of the NPSL in 1996. He was second on the Thunder in points during the 1995 season with 44. Currently Sanneh is ranked third among USISL assist leaders with four for the season in playing five games. Runner-up Rookie of the Year in the ’94-’95 season with the Chicago Power (NPSL), he started his Professional career with the Milwaukee Rampage in ’94 and was selected team MVP. Sanneh was an All-American and holds all career scoring records at UW-Milwaukee by leading the team in scoring three out of four years. While at Milwaukee, he was selected All-Midwest Region four times. Sanneh was UW-Milwaukee’s Captain in 1993 and Conference MVP. He was also a member of the 1990 West Team Olympic Festival gold medalist team. Sanneh is expected to make his DC United debut this Sunday when DC United hosts the NY/NJ Metro Stars.

From 1996

I apologize for my lengthy absence. Life with the Thunder has been an exciting, tumultuous, energy-sapping trip theses past couple of weeks. My budding literary career had been pushed aside as I battled through the departure of another of my best friends to the promised land of the MLS. This will be the first time in eight years that I will finish a summer season without Manuel and Tony. However, after a couple of weeks reflection, it seems that the schism has benefitted all parties. Manuel and Tony continue to thrive in our countries highest league (as we knew they would) and with our backs against the wall, the Thunder has come together. Receiving great contributions from our younger players, we are playing some of our best soccer of the year. It’s a scenario I would not have imagined at the beginning of the season.

Life continues to change and new challenges arise. Rather poetic, don’t you think?

Olympic fervor runs rampant on our shores these days. One can’t turn on the t.v. or open the newspaper without being assaulted by olympic updates or medal counts. (not that we’ll see a lick of olympic soccer) Unbridled nationalism wafts through the air. Even though Breath Right is one of our sponsors, Mr. Lagos has forbidden us to wear the ubiquitous nasal strips for fear that our unobstructed sinuses will absorb too much air and prompt us to kick our foreign teammates.

I have a couple more observations to share with you. First, in direct contrast to the olympic coverage, what bliss Euro ‘96 was for the ardent soccer fan! High level soccer dotted the t.v. schedule and for a wondrous couple of weeks, the U.S. was awash in a sea of soccer accessability. Secondly, I must state for the record that the German footballing fortune astounds me. How did they win the European Championship? They always seem to limp through the early rounds, face adversity-galore, and eventually win. The semi-final game against England?!?! In overtime, Darren Anderton hits the post from six yards away, and Paul Gascoigne lets a cross elude his foot on the two yard line. (incidentally, I couldn’t help thinking that had the Alan Shearer cross been a jelly donut or a pint of lager, Gazza would have pounced on it in the blink of an eye and England would be European champions) After Euro ‘96 and the memories of 1982, 86 and 90, I must conclude that the Germans bask in more than balmy luck and actually have managed to figure out exactly how to win on the world stage. Conversely, one must examine the talented French and gape in wonder at their inability to win big games. The 1984 European Championship aside, the typically talented French team seems to fold in the climactic matches. Bad luck? Perhaps, but more than likely, they lack the precise element that Germany totes in abundance. In one of my many conversations with former French 1st division star (and more impressively, former Thunder midfielder) Pierre Morice, we talked about this mysterious and elusive talent. He described it using the word, efficacite’. The ability to make a half chance a full chance. The will to rise above oneself in big games. He used the German National team and the Italian professional teams as examples of this efficiency. In his lengthy international career, Pierre was most impressed with the skill and technique of the Russians and a little disappointed by the Italians. However, his teams always managed to beat the Russians and lose to the Italians. I’m tempted to delve into a lengthy explanation of how this phenomenon fits perfectly with the political and social idealogies of the respective countries. But alas, I concentrated in English medieval history and my knowledge of Italy and Russia extends only to Machiavelli and Tolstoy. I’m certain that this connection exists, however, I lack the imagination and desire to research it properly. I certainly welcome any pertinent observations that might enlighten and inform. I’ll be back soon.

-Amos