ST. PAUL, Minn. — RKC Third Coast has been a bit of a bogeyman for Minneapolis City SC. Across six meetings prior to this Wednesday night, City had only managed a single point — last summer’s 3-3 draw at Edor Nelson Field on May 18. Further, the Crows only-once held the Seagulls to fewer than three goals, giving up a pair in the 2024 away fixture.
“It’s, ‘Let’s go make history,”” answered Minneapolis head coach Jon Forsythe, when asked what his pregame message was for his players. “Club has never beaten RKC. This team is very ambitious, and if we just approach one game, that’s all the motivation we need. I gave them some tactical ideas, but that was the main message, and the guys responded well.”
Entering the match, RKC held a 1-1-1 record but had only conceded thrice on the young season. That Seagulls defense proved formidable again, as while the Crows dictated the flow of the game for most of the night, and seized a disproportionate share of possession and field-tilt, a goal remained elusive.
Shea Bechtel struck the RKC goalpost with a shot in the 20th minute, but the game remained scoreless at halftime.
“We had a few opportunities early, and those are ones that we had really good actions on, where, unlucky not to score,” said Forsythe. “If you go up 1-0, then you really have control of the game, and the other team has to chase. We can counter and do a lot of those things, so yeah, goals separate games. Sometimes in football, you have to be patient, and we did that today. I think for me, on the sidelines, we knew there was a goal coming.”
A 65th-minute corner would set the stage for that breakthrough.
“Alex [Moreno] put a beautiful ball up to the back post, and I got free from my guy, and was able to tap it in,” said forward Nathan Donovan.
The goal was Donovan’s sixth on the season, having scored in three-straight contests. The former UW-Eau Claire Bluegold credited his basketball background in shaking his marker, throwing a quick jab-step in the direction of the near post before peeling away to the far.
“I was only a few yards out from goal, so I knew I had to keep it low, put it on target, so nothing crazy powerful or anything,” Donovan said. “Just kind-of placed it in the middle of the goal, when Alex is picking you out at the back post.”
It was then up to Minneapolis’ defending to make that lead hold.
“Every single guy on the roster tonight, everyone played their role, stepped up when they were asked, and we played a full 90,” said Donovan. “This was a very different game than the other three games we played this year. We were able to get a goal up, and close it out, and play to the final whistle.”
Goalkeeper Daniel Sessler, who recorded his third clean sheet of 2026, noted that it was the Crows’ first real away game, dealing with the fatigue of a long bus ride.
“That within itself is tough, I think,” Sessler said. “People waking up early, getting on the bus, sitting there for five or six hours, and just knowing you’re going to have to find it somewhere in you to get all 3 points, especially versus a really tough team. Guys having the same agenda really helps when its XI vs. XI, and all 11 guys on your side of the field have the same goal, and that’s the win.”
Forsythe praised how hard his players worked defending in transition. Asked which of his teammates’ performances stood out, Sessler was hard pressed to pick one.
“I think the depth that we have on this team is really beneficial, in I don’t think there’s a single guy that that really is a weak link,” noted the keeper. “I think we’re all very strong, and just getting to know everybody, and how they play, really, really helps. But I guess to answer your question, [Jason] Ramos, he’s a veteran, he’s been there before. He knows how to lead with charge, energy, keep everyone composed. So, having him back there is really, really nice, and I consider it a luxury as a goalkeeper.”
As to if a looming matchup with Sueno FC was a distraction, Forsythe brushed the suggestion away.
“I always have the mindset approaching a game like every game is a final,” said Forsythe. “You don’t want to be getting to the end of a 12-game season and saying, ‘Oh, I wish we hadn’t done something that took the RKC away-game less seriously.’ Whatever it is, you’ve got to win the game at hand. You’re never guaranteed anything in the future, and so you’ve just got to go after winning this game.
“We got a really resilient group. The guys are going to be ready for Sueno. I think everybody’s had that game circled on the calendar, and yeah, tough to play top team like RKC, and turn around and play another top team like Sueno. But honestly, we need a test like this against a top, top quality team, well organized, to be able to prepare ourselves the best for Saturday.”
Sprint for the Heartland!
Eight of the division’s nine teams played last night. And what a night it was. Former-Crow Scott Heinen’s Chicago Dutch Lions tallied their third dub of the year, thanks to a 60th minute match-winner at home against Rochester FC. Rockford Raptors FC scored a pair of second-half goals to beat St. Croix Legends 4-2. And, River Light FC pulled off a huge upset in a Chicagoland derby, making a 2-1 lead stand up for a full hour against then first-place Sueno FC.
Shoutout to former Duluth FC rival Kostyantyn Domaratskyy, and current River Light player, who’s 30th-minute goal helped knock Sueno down into second place.
Of note, in defeating the Seagulls in Racine, Wisc., Minneapolis was the only away side to win on Wednesday.
Up next? The fixture City fans have been anticipating since the 2026 schedule was released in February. It’s Crows versus Dreamers, as the Heartland’s top-two teams square off. And, due to the division expanding to nine teams, and the resulting unbalanced schedule, the only time the two will meet in 2026 barring another postseason reunion.
Head-to-head record serves as a tiebreaker in the standings. The potential to pull 6 points ahead, with that tiebreaker in hand, is tantalizing. But after losing the division crown at Edor Nelson Field on July 12 of last year, and then getting bounced from the round-of-16 in League Two’s national playoffs nine days later, by none other than City, Sueno will be out for revenge.
“I spoke with the fans after the game,” said Forsythe, following Minneapolis’ 8-0 win over Rochester on May 30. “The atmosphere they’ve created this season has been so good; the chants, singing, everything like that.
“I said, ‘If you have a friend that wants to come experience the game. If you have somebody, maybe a cousin or a brother, that’s a little… you know… is happy to make a fool of himself, singing whatever, we want those guys here.’ The supporters section has been something. I knew there was a great supporter section here when I arrived, but to see what they’ve done, the home games, even the away game, that shifts the momentum of the game so much.
“So, we know these first games, they’ve provided such a big jolt for us. And yeah, we want to see that even more. I think it’s going to be a great game, the next home game that we have on Saturday. So bring your friends, bring your family, and let’s have a great night together on Saturday.”
