Jul 3, 2026
Minnesota Aurora FC advances to Central Conference Championship with 2-0 win over Union FC Macomb
PITTSBURGH, Penn. – Minnesota Aurora FC scored a goal in each half on its way to a 2-0 win over Union FC Macomb on Friday afternoon to advance to the Central Conference Championship match for a second straight season. Skye Leach opened the scoring before Jelena Zbiljic added a late insurance goal, while Aurora recorded its 12th shutout of the campaign.
Aurora will look to defend their Central Conference Championship title on Sunday, July 5, against the winner of the second semifinal match between Pittsburgh Riveters SC and Racing Louisville FC; kickoff for Sunday’s match is set for 6 p.m. (CT). Sunday’s match will be broadcast on the FOX LOCAL app as well as on FOX9.com, the FOX 9 YouTube page and various FAST channels.
Minnesota created several dangerous chances inside the opening 15 minutes, nearly breaking through in the 11th minute when Kyra Karfonta almost scored directly from a corner kick as her delivery hit the crossbar. Moments later, Flavie Dubé pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot from 15 yards that forced a diving save from the Union Macomb FC goalkeeper Emily Kruntovski. Then in the 13th minute, it was Hadli Barrera that tested the goalkeeper again with a shot from inside the box, drawing another diving stop.
Staying on the front foot in the 30th minute, Aurora played a short corner to Dubé, who dribbled along the end line before finding Jeanette Fieldsend at the corner of the six-yard box. Fieldsend had two close-range efforts blocked by a Union defender before they cleared the ball.
Aurora finally broke through in the 39th minute as Leach made a near-post run and flicked home a header off a corner kick from Karfonta. Just before the half, Karfonta unleashed a shot from the top of the box, but it was tipped over the bar by the Macomb goalkeeper in the 44th minute.
Minnesota had a chance to double its lead in the 48th minute. Barrera took advantage of a Union miscue in the back and dribbled into the box on the breakaway, but sent her shot wide of the target. In the 55th minute, Dubé picked up the ball in the midfield and took her chance from inside the box with her shot going just inches wide of the right post.
Working the ball out wide to the right, Fieldsend and Gracie Dunaway combined in the 65th minute. Fieldsend sent a perfect ball across the face of goal to Dubé, whose close-range effort rattled the underside of the crossbar before Thalia Morisi’s attempt from inside five yards skipped wide of the target.
Goalkeeper Taylor Fox came up with a crucial save in the 83rd minute, racing off her line to deny Averi Thiede. The Union forward found space on the left side of the box, but Fox made a kick save to preserve the Aurora lead and the shutout.
Aurora put the match away in the 87th minute when Zbiljic doubled the lead. Kalo Iongi received the ball on the left flank before picking out Zblijic, who calmly tucked her shot from 10-yards out in the center of the box inside the left post.
The USL W League Playoffs national semifinal round is scheduled for July 10, with the championship set for July 17. If Aurora advances and is awarded hosting rights, those matches could be played at TCO Stadium. Tickets for a potential July 10 national semifinal match are available to purchase now at https://mnaurora.com/club/tickets/. All tickets for the match are general admission and are fully refundable if the team doesn’t advance or earn the bid to host.
