Niklas Niehoff in a duel with D. J. Taylor
In the second and final test match of the US training camp, our Storks drew with Minnesota United FC on Monday evening. The game took place at Allianz Field and ended 0-0.
Holstein got off to a committed start against the MLS club and had their first good opportunity after five minutes when Niklas Niehoff’s cross was laid off by Marcus Müller to Armin Gigovic, whose low shot was turned aside by Alec Smir. Shortly afterwards, however, Minnesota’s goalkeeper did not have to intervene when Müller hit the outside of the net from an acute angle (10′) and headed over from six meters to the right (25′). Our KSV pressed for the lead, but the hosts survived this phase unscathed as Smir saved Gigovic’s powerful long-range shot (27′) and was also on hand to deal with a direct shot (28′) and a header (30′) from Lasse Rosenboom. After Mladen Cvjetinovic had flicked the ball narrowly wide right from the edge of the box (37), the home side almost took the lead with their first attack when Alisa Randell found himself free in front of our keeper Jonas Krumrey on his debut in a KSV shirt and struck the ball against the right post from an acute angle (43). In stoppage time, Krumrey kept out another Randell shot (45.+1).
For the second half, our coach Marcel Rapp made one complete substitution apart from Krumrey. Carl Johansson had the first opportunity of the second half, but was unable to beat Smir with a low volley (53′). A short time later, Leon Parduzi missed the lead because he caught a sharp cross from Phil Harres with his shoulder instead of his head, allowing the ball to bounce to Smir from three meters out (56′). Our mates continued to control the ball and their opponents, but increasingly found the deep MNUFC defense hard to break down. In the closing stages, the Rapp team stepped up the pace once again, but Hamza Muqaj’s header was denied by Smir (83′) and Harres narrowly missed a Parduzi cross (84′). Finn Porath had the last chance of the game, but his powerful shot was also held by Smir (90′), meaning that our Storks drew goalless with the Loons, as the hosts are known.
Statistics:
Minnesota United: Smir – Taylor (80. Romanshyn), Fischer (46. Kingii), Keller, Padelford, Chandler – Calov (80. Niang), Jung (50. Kabia) – Shashoua (46. Kamara), Mesanvi (64. Putt), Randell (64. Hille).
Holstein – 1st half: Krumrey – Rosenboom, Cvjetinovic, Zec, Geschwill, Niehoff – Wagner, Schwab, Gigovic – Bernhardsson, Müller.
Holstein – 2nd half: Krumrey – Porath, Nekic, Johansson, Ivezic, Parduzi – Davidsen, Knudsen – Skrzybski, Harres, Prasse (68. Muqaj).
Goals: none.
