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Des Moines Held At Bay by FC Manitoba

By Danny Kotula, 06/05/22, 8:45PM CDT

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The unbeaten record continues behind a second straight clean sheet

SHORT STORY

Des Moines Menace capped their Canadian road trip with a 0-0 draw at FC Manitoba, dropping their first points of the 2022 League Two campaign as a result.

FIRST HALF

The first twenty minutes were under the visitors' full control, but they had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Striker Ryan Kingsford came closest with a pair of chances inside the box, but they were well dealt with by Manitoba's back line.

Gianluca Fiorini picked up Menace's first booking of the match in the 21st minute, fouling a Manitoba attacker as Des Moines retreated defensively from a corner.

After Manitoba settled down with a spell of possession, attacking midfielder Ryley Kraft nearly put Menace ahead from a free kick. Already the scorer of a direct free kick this season, this effort from Kraft in the 29th minute curled too far inwards, finding the wrong side of the near post.

Neither side could hold onto meaningful possession in windy conditions, and the two sides went into the halftime break at 0-0.

SECOND HALF (Menace 0-0 Manitoba at half)

Luka Nedic picked up a 63rd-minute yellow card for a hearty tackle, but outside of that challenge, the first twenty minutes of the second half were mostly uneventful.

Manitoba defended well throughout the second half, keeping Menace from developing attacking chances.

One opportunity came on a penalty shout with 79 minu, with midfielder Eliot Goldthorp going down from a Manitoba challenge on the right edge of the box. The referee waved away appeals for a penalty, and the match stayed at 0-0.

Manitoba produced a chance soon after on the other end, generating a header in front of goal from a free kick. Goalkeeper Grant Makela made the necessary save for Menace to keep the home side off the board.

A stoppage-time chance was denied for Fernando Garcia, a substitute striker who found himself a few yards from goal. The point-blank save went out for a corner, but that, too was unfruitful.

In the end, Des Moines ran out of time and were kept scoreless for the first time on the season.

WHO'S WHO

Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Grant Makela, goalkeeper; Connor Langan, Malik Smith, Morris Duggan, defenders; Gianluca Fiorini, Yanis Lelin, Luka Nedic, Eliot Goldthorp, Ryley Kraft (C), midfielders; Edoardo Degl'Innocenti, Ryan Kingsford, forwards

KICKS AND GIGGLES

The scoreless result marks Menace's first match without a goal and Menace's third clean sheet defensively.

Menace has now kept a 12-game unbeaten streak dating back to last year.

Maestre picked up his first yellow card of the campaign, becoming the sixth Menace player to receive a booking.

ON DECK

Menace return home for the first time in nearly a month to host Minneapolis City SC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 11 at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, and the match can be streamed live on YouTube via CISN here.

WHERE THINGS STAND

Menace stay top of the Deep North Division despite dropping their first points of the 2022 season