Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Des Moines Menace fans, make plans to pack the bus for Kansas City.
Put it on your calendars: Tuesday, May 28 – Des Moines Menace against Sporting KC at Sporting Park. For the first time in the franchise’s 20 seasons, the Menace takes center stage in a Major League Soccer venue.
A nail-biting, 1-0, upset of Minnesota United FC on Tuesday night set the scene for one of the most anticipated matches in Menace history. Under rainy skies at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, Brandon Fricke’s headed goal in the 86th minute lifted Des Moines past the pros, and into the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Menace are headed to Kansas City, Kan., to the state-of-the-art, $200-million Sporting Park, for a 7:30 p.m. CT match against the reigning Open Cup champions.
Can head coach Mike Jeffries’ crew hang with an MLS team? On this night, they got past the North American Soccer League’s 2012 runner-up – the same group that knocked the Menace out of the cup’s second round a year ago.
“It was fantastic,” Jeffries said. “The guys came out with the right attitude and effort. They knew what they wanted, and they made it happen.”
Jimmy Tulloch set up the game-winning goal with less than five minutes left in regulation, sending in a well-placed corner kick. From the far corner of the six-yard box, Fricke timed his jump in perfect rhythm. The fourth-year defender from Grimes nailed the ball just inside the left post, beyond the reach of Minnesota goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.
“We had put pressure on them all game with corners,” Fricke said. “We were just finally able to connect on one.”
Fricke’s teammates mobbed him before he could sprint all the way back to midfield. Tulloch celebrated by motioning to shush the home fans. Minnesota forward Pablo Campos took issue with this. The NASL’s 2012 Most Valuable Player chased after Tulloch and gave him a chest bump; the center referee intervened.
In the final minutes, Des Moines pulled everyone back and held on for dear life. Minnesota attacked with a series of shots, including one that pinged off the cross bar. Menace goalie Scott Angevine secured his third straight 1-0 shutout win – and a chance to play against his former team. Angevine, a Kansas City native, played for his hometown MLS side in 2012.
Tulloch has used corner kicks to assist goals in the Menace’s last two matches. He headed in the goal in a 1-0 win over Madison in the Cup’s first round on May 15, and he nearly scored again in the 23rd minute against Minnesota. VanOekel’s backward, diving save knocked the ball over the goal, deflecting Tulloch’s hooking chip shot.
The visitors caught a break when Campos’ apparent goal was disallowed in the 68th minute, called back on an offside call. Minnesota took 16 shots – double the Menace’s total – but not one found the back of the net.
Des Moines improves to 10-7 all-time in the Open Cup, including a 6-5 mark against professional teams and a 4-3 record in road matches. In 2005 and 2006, the Menace lost fourth-round matches against the Kansas City Wizards. Those are the only two occasions Des Moines has faced an MLS team in the Cup, and neither of those matches was played in the Wizards’ home stadium.
MAN of the MATCH, presented by Seneca Companies: Brandon Fricke, whose second goal with the Menace will not soon be forgotten. Fricke, a defender from Grimes, attends Butler University. He played for the Kanas City Wizards’ youth academy.
UP NEXT: Des Moines hops back into PDL action on Saturday (May 25), for the second of six straight road matches. The Menace faces Heartland Division rival St. Louis in a 5 p.m. grudge match at Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in St. Peters, Mo.
The Menace’s next home match is Saturday, June 8 against Springfield on Youth Soccer Night.
BUS TRIP: The Menace organization is working to make bus trips, including admission into Tuesday’s game, available to fans on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit MenaceSoccer.com for further details.