Despite the result, the Sioux Falls Thunder (0-6-2) played NPSL's top-ranked team, Duluth FC (9-0-0), to a tight home game on Wednesday, June 22nd, dropping only a single goal to the opposition. Despite a myriad of chances, the Thunder couldn't equalize to fall 0-1 to Duluth.
The Thunder had a great chance in the opening minutes when a ball was slotted across to a racing Marcus Horwood, but the shot went just wide. Horwood had another chance in the 10th minute when a defensive mistake gave him an open shot from the eighteen, but the ball overcorrected to the other side of the post to keep the game level.
Duluth broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a header from Dylan Viebrantz-Zavatini off of a corner kick. The Thunder would have their best chance to equalize at the break when Horwood got off a shot at full speed just before a collision with the Duluth keeper. The ball bounced wide yet again, and no penalty kick was awarded.
However, a penalty kick would be awarded to Duluth after a long second half of corner kicks and no real chances for either team. The Duluth taker embarrassingly sent the PK sky-high, but with Thunder defender Robert Amaro off the pitch for the penalty-giving foul, the Thunder struggled to make a comeback in the last 10 minutes. The final whistle closed the six extra minutes of stoppage time keeping the score 0-1 for Duluth.
The Thunder will head to Minnesota on Saturday, June 24th to play the Dakota Fusion before returning home to Bob Young Field on Wednesday, June 28th to face off against Joy St. Louis Park.
**Photos provided by Travis Gallipo Photography
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