Waves Squander Two-Goal Lead, Fall to Minnesota

The Waves gave up three goals in the second half Friday and lost to the Minnesota Thunder, 4-3, in an A-League game in Blaine, Minn.

Midfielder Stoian Mladenov scored the winner in the 81st minute, knocking in a loose ball from 18 yards.

The Waves (9-9-1), who came into the game one point out of first place in the Pacific Division, erased a 1-0 deficit on first-half goals by Kenny Hesse in the 27th minute, P.J. Polowski in the 39th minute and Jason Boyce in injury time.

But Mladenov scored from 10 yards in the 67th minute and forward Gerard Lagos tied it, 3-3, eight minutes later on a header off a cross from Don Gramenz.

Minnesota leads the Central Division with a 13-1-4 record. The victory runs Minnesota’s unbeaten streak to nine games.

The Waves continue their trip tonight against the Milwaukee Rampage.