MINNEAPOLIS, MN (May 22, 2022) – Peoria City made the most of its first-ever road trip. On the heels of Friday’s 1-0 win Friday at Minneapolis City SC, Peoria City (2-0-1) rallied for a 2-1 victory Sunday at St. Croix SC (0-2-0) at Stillwater High School to move to the top of the USL League Two Deep North Division standings with seven points.
The first half was all Peoria City with the visitors dominating possession, but unable to find the twine. In the 11th minute, Peoria City hit back-to-back crossbars on consecutive shots and kept on the ball for a couple of more chances before the first-half whistle.
St. Croix never enjoyed any sustained possession in the first half and Peoria City GK Kevin Qi needed just a routine save to preserve the scoreless draw through 45 minutes.
In the second half, St. Croix came to life. The Legends got multiple chances in the opening minutes of the second half, and they found their break in the 56th minute, drawing a penalty off a corner kick. Midfielder Victor Gaulmin took the PK and beat the diving Qi right down the middle.
Peoria City would not go down without a fight, though, and turned the pressure up in search of the equalizer. Collecting a service from the right flank, Justin Freitas notched his second goal of the season and of the road trip in the 75th minute, showing good composure to collect the service with a defender on his back and calmly deposit his shot inside the right post.
Now with momentum back on its side, Peoria City pulled ahead late in the half as second-half sub Joao Brum delivered a beautiful strike from the top of the penalty area. Peoria City had played a ball into the attacking third from midfield, but St. Croix’s clearance attempt was popped into the air toward the “D,” where Brum one-timed a laser through traffic and past the diving Legends keeper at the left post.
With a game in hand, Peoria City faces a big test to its position atop the Deep North Division table by welcoming defending League Two champion Des Moines Menace (2-0-0, 6 points) to Bradley University’s Shea Stadium. Friday’s game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff. 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.
