The inaugural game of Major League Soccer’s 27th season belonged to Minnesota United FC and the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on a bright and blustery day in Chester, PA.

The Loons came into a difficult venue for visiting teams determined to take a positive result back to the Twin Cities ahead of next weekend’s home opener. While Minnesota’s reloaded attack had its share of chances to come away with all three points in the eventual 1-1 draw against a Union team with ambitions of being the class of the Eastern Conference, Adrian Heath’s club will take the always-challenging away point against a tough opponent and have plenty to feel good about as all eyes shift to next Saturday’s tilt with Nashville.

Due to injuries to Abu Danladi, Chase Gasper, Romain Metanire and Wil Trapp, Heath was forced to improvise and start a lineup that has not spent much time together this preseason. Luis Amarilla started at the top; Bakaye Dibassy and Oneil Fisher filled in at fullback for Metanire and Gasper, respectively; and Honduran international, Kervin Arriaga, whose paperwork was approved while the team’s plane was en route to Philadelphia, filled in for the injured Trapp. 

In total, Arriaga, Fisher and Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, all made their Minnesota United debuts today.

Despite the challenge of facing a formidable opponent on the road with an improvised lineup, the Loons did not appear content to play conservative and hope for a draw. Both teams pressed the issue from the opening whistle and gave the 17,487 in attendance several opportunities to get out of their seats.    

Amarilla nearly opened the scoring in the second minute of his first official match back in black and blue after a nice set up by Robin Lod, but was denied by Andre Blake. The two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year had a busy day in net for the Union, making five saves on 14 Minnesota United shots

MNUFC broke through in the 23rd minute and scored the first official goal of the 2022 MLS season. Franco Fragapane took a long ball from Bakaye Dibbasy in a dangerous position on the left flank. Fragapane shed Philly defender Olivier Mbaizo with a clever right-footed first touch and raced towards the end line. The Argentine sent a perfectly-weighted low cross through the middle of the 18-yard box, where Robin Lod was waiting to smash the ball into the back of the net with his left foot from a step in front of the penalty spot.

The goal marked the 20th time Lod has found the back of the net across all competitions in a Loons kit.

The hosts equaled the score a dozen minutes later. Fullback Kai Wagner took a recycled ball off a corner kick and found Jakob Glesnes deep on the right side. The Norwegian sent a beautiful right-footed cross past the outstretched arm of Tyler Miller and right onto the head of Cory Burke, who sent a smooth shot right to the back of the net to even the tally.

Arriaga came within inches of turning in a dream debut with his new club in the 42nd minute. The newcomer sent a screeching right-footed free kick from just outside of the 18-yard box, which beat Blake, but found the upper-left corner of the woodwork. The rebound eventually fell to the left foot of Lod, who sent an attempt just over the crossbar.

The second half proved to be just as wide open as the first with both sides trading several chances inside of the first 15 minutes. Amarilla found himself in space after a run to the top of the box in the 56th minute, but his shot went straight into the sure hands of Blake. Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdag came close to putting the hosts in front moments later with a dangerous run up the left flank, but his hopeful left-footed pass across the goal mouth found nobody home. 

A second half filled with stoppages in the form of subs, several fouls on both sides, and lengthy conversations between players and referee Rubiel Vazquez turned into a whopping seven minutes of added time at the end of regulation. The theme of the game continued in added time, with both squads pressing for a winner.

The best chance in added time came in the 92nd minute and belonged to Adrien Hunou, who subbed on in the 84th minute for Amarilla. Hunou very nearly took all three points for MNUFC after one-timing a through ball from Lod from just outside the 18-yard box. Blake was off his line, but recovered to make a spectacular save with his left hand to keep the score at 1-1 and halve the points between the two sides.

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. NASHVILLE SC
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
03.05.2022 | MLS Week No. 2 | MLS Game No. 2
5:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW Twin Cities, MLS Live on ESPN+, SKOR North)