GOLDEN VALLEY, MN (May 20, 2022) – After allowing a debut victory to slip away in extra time against Minneapolis City SC last week at Shea Stadium, Peoria City (1-0-1, 4 points) sealed the deal in the return matchup Friday night, earning its first-ever win, 1-0, and three points to take over second place in the early USL League Two Deep North Division table at McKnight Stadium.
Both teams had their fair share of chances early in the game, however, Martin Sanchez was sharp early for Minneapolis City SC (0-2-1, 1 point), thwarting any chances that Peoria City had. Peoria City kept up the early pressure, though, and broke through in the 19th minute when Justin Freitas headed a delivery off of a corner kick into the back of the net to put the visitors up, 1-0.
Toward the end of the first half Minneapolis City had a prime scoring chance, but Peoria City goaltender Rimi Olutanji snuffed it out with a two glove save to keep the score at 1-0 at the half.
In the second half it was much of the same as in the early stages: both Gevork Diarbian and Justin Freitas had A+ chances at the net, but Sanchez was able to stop both of those opportunities and keep it a 1-goal game.
In the dying minutes of the game, Minneapolis City had one last opportunity to tie the game and repeat what happened last weekend, but Eli Goldman was unable to find the back of the net, and Rimi Olutanji notched his first clean sheet of the season.
Peoria City will have little time to celebrate the historic victory, returning to action Sunday afternoon at St. Croix. PC returns to Bradley University’s Shea Stadium next Friday night by hosting defending USL League Two champion Des Moines Menace in a 7 p.m. match atop the division table. Tickets for Peoria City home games start at just $5 and are available for purchase in advance online at peoriacitysoccer.com or by visiting Peoria City Five Bar locations The Fieldhouse Bar & Grill, The Fox Pub & Cafe and Pour Bros. Craft Taproom.
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