Dakota Fusion FC ground out a 2–0 home victory over Minnesota Blizzard FC in NPSL action on Saturday, with both goals coming from Minnesota own goals — T. Yamaguchi putting into his own net in the 55th minute and K. Green doing the same in the 88th.
The first half was a scrappy, stop-start affair. Minnesota Blizzard managed to keep things level, but the tension was evident. Dakota Fusion's N. Sealy picked up a yellow card in the 19th minute, and teammate E. Snyder followed him into the book just before halftime in the 43rd.
The deadlock broke ten minutes into the second half when Yamaguchi turned the ball into his own goal to hand Dakota Fusion a 1–0 lead. Minnesota Blizzard pressed for an equalizer but struggled to create clear-cut chances, and T. Suzuki's frustration boiled over with a yellow card in the 65th minute.
Dakota Fusion were content to sit deep and protect their advantage. D. Navia was cautioned in the 86th minute as challenges grew more desperate. Two minutes later, Green compounded Minnesota's misery with another own goal, putting the result beyond doubt at 2–0. C. Hermanson picked up a late booking in stoppage time, but by then the points were already secured.
Five yellow cards across the two sides underlined the physical nature of the contest, though neither team saw red.
The win gives Dakota Fusion FC valuable momentum in the NPSL season and piles pressure on a Minnesota Blizzard side that will want to quickly forget a night where their own defenders did the damage.