ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last summer, Minneapolis City SC won its first silverware in USL League Two, claiming the Heartland Division title. The Crows’ 2025 flight into the postseason felt like playing with house money, after missing out on the playoffs in each of the prior three summers. Now, on the heels of a 12-0-0 regular season, Thursday afternoon’s Central Conference quarterfinal matchup with West Virginia United carried expectations with it.
A hot and humid afternoon at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill. led to an opening half hour where both teams were feeling one another out, while looking to be the side that broke the game open. Then, shortly after the second hydration break of the first half, Masango Akale won a penalty for City.
“Oh my God! I mean, we definitely missed him when he was gone,” said Minneapolis captain Hakeem Morgan, of Akale. “He brings a different layer to our attack. He’s so direct, so shifty. He creates chances off the dribble. He can find a pass. He can also shoot from distance. So he’s just another threat that teams need to focus on. They need to choose who they want to hurt them on the day, you know? And then Sango has that layer individuality up top that we definitely need, because he gathers a lot of attention. and then opens up the spaces for me and Donny and our wingbacks to come around and create plays.”
It was Morgan, himself, who would convert the penalty kick, giving the Crows the lead; firing low to Toby Mawer’s left, as the keeper dove to his right.
“Scoring one is good, but it’s definitely better when you have a two-goal cushion, especially with the backline that we have,” Morgan said, postgame. “I trust every single person in our backline that we’re not gonna get scored on. And then, up top, we just try to do our job and score as much as we can, so that their job is a little bit easier in terms of defending and having to worry about keeping a clean sheet.”
Just five minutes later, that second goal would come from a lightning-fast counter. Defender Dubem Obilo played a dangerous ball into the channel for City’s leading scorer, Nathan “Dr. Goals” Donovan. When a United defender attempted to intervene, the resulting under-hit back pass proved disastrous, as Donovan struck to net his 17th goal of the season.
It was a startling five minutes for a West Virginia side that had recently restocked its roster for a postseason push. Since June 30, United announced the signings of forward Hakim Musabbah, defender Kenzi Mason, forward Geraldo Neto, forward Paul Caliari, midfielder Alexander Romero, goalkeeper Travis Lutz. and forward Gabriel Rodriguez.
“We’ve maybe added one or two guys within like the last month and a half,” noted Crows centerback Jason Ramos. “But other than that, we’ve been playing with the same guys since week one, and I think that’s brought us to where we’re at now. We know how we want to play. We’ve created that chemistry.
“We don’t really worry too much about the other teams, if they want to bring new players now. Then it shows that they don’t have the quality, or they haven’t had the quality that they’re looking for throughout the whole season. But we’re happy with what we have, and we’ve only been getting better, game by game. So, I want to say that’s a credit to the coaches and all the staff for putting the team together.”
A key member of the Minneapolis side that reached the conference finals, keeper Daniel Sessler, was clutch once again — earning Man of the Match honors on the strength of several big saves.
“The key to victory was just the defensive work — like work ethic. We knew we knew that we were gonna find a way to score, and it was just a matter of what we did after that,” said Ramos. “I think Sessler had two or three saves. In the important games, the goalie’s always gonna have those two-to-three plays where they gotta make that save. And he came up big in those moments.”
Ramos’ head coach conferred with his veteran defender’s assessment of the netminder.
“This is what he’s been doing all season, for us,” Jon Forsythe said. “You know, he’s called into action two or three times, and makes two or three huge saves. Great mentality on this guy; top goalkeeper. And we know as we go through the playoffs, there’re going to be moments that he’s got to make two or three really good saves, like he did today.”
The Crows came out on the front foot following halftime. A big part of that was an unflagging energy level in spite of the balmy conditions.
“Jeloni [Murray-Powell], for the last four or five games… I mean, since the beginning of the season… but more the last couple games coming to the postseason, he’s been outstanding,” said Morgan. “I feel like every time I look, he’s everywhere. He’s winning the ball. He’s going for a tackle. Having someone like that in the midfield, stepping up with Jake [Swallen] out because of injury, has been big time. He’s pulled through big time for us.”
In addition to Murray-Powell, City’s young winbacks, Ari van Mol and Caleb Capone, put in determined work up and down the flanks until they were substituted off with just over 20 minutes remaining. Earlier in the game, and notably, while covering for a slip in midfield by a teammate, van Mol had raced the length of the field to help Ramos smother a dangerous counter attack by Raul Maia Mendes inside the Crows’ penalty area.
“I think what shows on the field today, is we’re a family. We became a family. We fight for each other,” said Morgan. “We’ve created relationships outside of the field that definitely translate onto the field, and I feel like that’s what put us on top today. You know, we’re willing to fight for the next player, the person next to you, and that was the difference maker to it, in my opinion.”
As the game grew late, and trailing by a pair of scores, West Virginia piled on the pressure.
“They’re a good team,” Forsythe said. “We felt like they knew how to play. They were good in possession, but you know, were very susceptible in the counter attack. We still tried to play a lot the second half. I think probably even the best chances we created were the first 15-20 minutes of the second half, and to be honest, should have been three or four. Then, the guys did well to close the game out, as the opponent started making a little bit more of an effort to go forward.
“So yeah, good complete performance. Like you said, there’s different phases against a quality opponent like these guys. We aren’t going to have complete control all of the game, but the guys managed the different moments very well.”
Crosses, corners and free kicks were thrown towards City’s goal. United hit the crossbar. But Minneapolis’ defense held.
“Knowing that they’re gonna have crosses, they’re gonna have maybe a shot or two, and just defending those moments. It’s all about digging deep and just getting through it,” said Ramos. “Because at the end of the day, you can’t deny them. It’s the momentum of the game, they’re gonna come at us. And I think we did a really good job of that today, bringing that pressure and winning those first balls in there, and those second balls, too. It was pretty big for, us those key moments.”
Pulled back as fresh legs were introduced to the game, Morgan and his 13 goals were moved into midfield. The captain noted that growing up in Costa Rica, he had spent a year playing as a no. 6, and that he felt quite comfortable picking the role back up.
Forsythe had ridden all of his starters into the 67th minute, replaced midfielder Alex Moreno in the 74th, and made a last pair of changes with just three minutes remaining in regulation. The author pressed the coach on how best to weight securing victory on the day against a short turnaround for the conference semifinal on Saturday evening.
“Saturday doesn’t exist if we don’t take care of business today,” offered Forsythe. “So, everything we did — and I think this has been a consistent approach to the season — everything we do is just focused on the present moment.
“The changes we make are just because, especially in the attacking areas, we want to bring guys that can bring a little bit of juice, a little bit of legs, and finish the game out well. You see, in transition again, so good with Phil [Caputo] and [Julian] Banks and Shay [Bechtel]. Those guys that come on create a huge threat as we’re going the other way. Just focused on today and now.”
The final whistle sounded. Minneapolis had advanced. And Forsythe was looking to get out of the late-afternoon heat.
“Casey [Holm] and I, we’re gonna sit in the nice air-conditioned box to watch the the [Peoria City-Sueño FC] game tonight. I think it’ll be a good one, too; really top teams,” he said. “I think we’re in a pod that has one of the strongest groups of teams in the country.”
His players, like Jason Ramos, who had battled for 90-plus minutes, were already turning their attention to Saturday evening.
“Just try to stay off of our feet. Probably get a good meal in us. Relax. Take advantage of tomorrow. You know, we have a whole day to recover,” said the defender. “Do whatever we can. Ice bath again. Get some good meals in. Stretching. Anything. Just try to be as professional as we can with the resources that we get. Just try to the best of our ability, to recover as much as we can, and then just go back at it.
“You know, that’s all we can do.”
