Minnesota Thunder News Release - www.mnthunder.com

Saturday, April 21, 2007      -    watch this game On Demand at www.USLlive.com

CARY, NC -- The Minnesota Thunder (0-0-2, 2 pts.) finished their first road trip of the season with another draw against the expansion side the Carolina Railhawks (0-0-1, 1 pts.). A penalty kick conversion by Thunder midfielder Ansu Toure in the 70th minute secured the 1-1 match.

The Thunder, coming off a 0-0 draw at Charleston last night, looked like a team that had traveled most of the night. The Railhawks controlled much of the game as they out shot the Thunder 13-5.

The Railhawks opened the scoring early in the match, getting on the board in the eighth minute. Railhawks player Kupono Low took a short corner kick at the top of the box. He turned and fired the ball past Thunder keeper Joe Warren into the upper corner of the goal.

In the 10th minute Thunder midfielder Brian Farber took a rolling ball in the Carolina box and tried to fire a shot. His miskicked shot rolled gently to Railhawks keeper Chris McClellan.

The Thunder’s best chance of the first half came off a free kick just outside the top of the box. Toure lined up for the shot and hit the ball on target. McClellan had to dive to his left to grab the ball and make the save.

The Thunder couldn’t muster much offense in the first half only coming up with two shots on goal.

Thunder players Leo Gibson and Sasha Gotsmanov entered the game midway through the second half and provided a spark for the Thunder. On a quick one touch bass from Gotsmanov, Toure found himself one on one with the keeper. As he was preparing to shoot, Railhawks defender and former Thunder defender Chad Dombrowski slid in and took Toure’s feet out from underneath him, awarding a penalty kick to the Thunder.

Toure got the Thunder on the board converting the penalty kick right down the middle of the goal.

The Thunder picked up the pace for the remainder of the second half. Farber had an opportunity to put the Thunder up in the 85th minute, but his run into the box ended with McClellan diving and taking the ball off of his foot.

“I’m very proud of our team,” said Thunder head coach Amos Magee. “It’s a very difficult schedule for us to open back to back on the road against teams that have a month of pre-season under their belt. We absorbed pressure, battled and fought in the right areas of the field, and got a goal late. Our team followed the tactical plan perfectly and we got a fantastic second half performance from tired legs.”

The Thunder’s next match will be at the Atlanta Silverbacks on Friday, April 27 LIVE on Fox Soccer Channel.

The Thunder will open its home season on Sunday, May 6, at 5:05 p.m. at James Griffin Stadium against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Admission for this game is FREE. For more information call 651-917-TEAM or visit online at www.mnthunder.com.