DAKOTA FUSION FC DEFEATS MED CITY FC 3-0

On a wet, cold, windy Sunday evening in Moorhead, MN,  Dakota Fusion FC took away a 3-0 win over Med City FC in their home opener.  Med City had the better run of play early in the match, getting numbers and service into the box.  DFFC gave up three set pieces to Med City in the dangerous area just outside the box in the first half but it was the collective defending by DFFC that slowly turned the game in their favor.

In just the second time downfield DFFC managed to penetrate the final third with Zuheer Al Abase, assisted by Osman Mberwa, opening the scoring with a goal and the eventual game-winner in the 13th minute.  Jade Johnson added the second goal at the 28th minute with an assist by Sunaj Beljulji.  DFFC goalkeeper Stephen Harris perhaps secured the win when he came up big diving at the feet of Med City’s Dion Dozzell as Dozzell beat the DFFC defenders and came in 1v1 on Harris.

At halftime, both sides ran to the locker room to warm up with the score 2-0, the advantage to Dakota Fusion.  The rain didn’t let up in the second half as both sides battled evenly with Med City having the edge in shots on goal and corner kicks.  With a two-goal lead but the starting DFFC eleven noticeably tired, Med City continued to apply relentless pressure, creating quality opportunities from the flanks.  The tide turned when Akeem Smith found a wide open Jade Johnson outside the box and with two long strides Johnson slotted the ball to the near post.

The win gives DFFC a 2-0-0 record and an early lead in the standings in the North Conference of the NPSL.  The next game for DFFC is Minneapolis City SC in Minneapolis on Friday, May 26th.