It was a disappointing debut for Minnesota United’s new Heritage Kit, as the Loons fell to LAFC by a 1-0 scoreline. There wasn’t much separating these two at the final whistle, but in a game full of a million pivotal moments, the deciding kick went the way of the visitors.
With essentially matching tactical setups coming up against one another, this match was always going to be a bit cagey. Aggressive wingback play and superb three-man backlines on both sides kept either side from gaining an advantage, leading to more passing across the back than Loons fans are used to seeing this season. But, the home side never panicked, never rushed, and rarely looked to be under duress for the majority of the match.
While the first half was largely unremarkable beyond the battle of wills, Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was called into action to make two absolutely stunning saves at full stretch, nullifying LAFC’s most promising attempts. Further up the pitch, the free-roaming role suited Tani Oluwaseyi’s strengths, as DSC’s fellow Canadian international showed a knack for finding open space, connecting the field, and still managing to be part of the attack. While he was part of some promising buildups, the Black and Blue couldn’t find that finishing touch at the final hurdle.
Though it seemed like they’d done enough to go into the locker room knotted at nil-nil, a late curveball changed the game. After a brief check in the 42nd minute, LAFC was awarded a penalty, which Denis Bouanga tucked neatly into the top corner, out of reach for any keeper. A handful of fouls following the penalty kept the Loons from finding the rhythm necessary to find the quick equalizer they were hoping for.
The second half saw the hosts come out with renewed energy, allowing them to exert serious pressure on the Black and Gold. They drew fouls in dangerous areas, earning a total of 11 free-kicks before the night was over. This was in addition to their 10 corners, none of which provided that set-piece spark that Loons fans have grown so fond of in 2025. Not even a Michael Boxall long throw could unlock this extremely disciplined LAFC defense.
A flurry of subs after the hour mark signaled Coach Ramsay’s intent to use fresh legs to push for the equalizer, but despite some close calls, it never came. Bouanga’s pace caused problems as the hosts pressed higher and higher, forcing two more brilliant saves out of DSC to give his team a fighting chance to earn a point out of this one.
The Loons weren’t outmatched in this one; they simply weren’t able to capitalize on the chances they’ve gotten used to scoring from. Some wonderful defensive efforts and several enterprising attacks were made useless by a single error in the end, leaving the home side without any points to show for their efforts. While they had a chance to take the top spot with a win, the Loons now sit behind San Diego and Vancouver in third place in the Western Conference on 40 points.
Minnesota United will be back in action this weekend, when they will visit the Portland Timbers on Saturday, July 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT, with streaming available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
