Minnesota United headed into its game against the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield leading Columbus Crew SC with reinforcements in the form of forward Kei Kamara and backup goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas but still missing a wide swathe of regular starters. Without Jan Gregus (red card) and Osvaldo Alonso (injury), Head Coach Adrian Heath opted for Jacori Hayes and Hassani Dotson in midfield, plus Thomas Chacon getting the start on the left wing with Kevin Molino unavailable. While MNUFC made a game of it late with a clutch goal in the 88th minute and another in stoppage time that was ultimately called back for offside, the Loons could not overcome an early goal deficit, ultimately falling 2-1 as Columbus remained perfect at home.
© Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota United began the game doing their best to press the issue against Columbus Crew SC on their home turf, putting balls into the box and getting it back when dispossessed. Before long, though, the Crew began to assert themselves, building up possession and before long, the home side was holding over 60% possession as the game approached the half-hour mark.
Columbus opened the scoring in the 31st minute as midfielder Pedro Santos sent in a curling cross from the left side, finding a diving Lucas Zelarayan who snaked his way inside of left back Chase Gasper and headed it home past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
It looked like that 1-0 lead would stand heading into the half, but then Gasper took down Luis Diaz just inside the penalty box. Zelarayan stepped to the spot in front of St. Clair, facing his second penalty in two games. The Argentine lined it up and stutter-stepped before driving the ball well over the bar and the Loons breathed a sigh of relief, heading into the locker room down just a single goal.
MNUFC began the second half with a bit more focus, doing their best to earn free kicks and nearly making something of them. In the 63rd minute, midfielder Emanuel Reynoso sent in a high arcing free kick from the left side that found the head of defender Jose Aja, but Aja couldn’t get it down and sent the ball over the crossbar.
On the other end, St. Clair did his best to keep Minnesota in the game with solid defensive work, including a sequence begun by a long shot from Zelarayan that pinged off the right post as St. Clair dove for it. The ball bounced straight out to Diaz, but St. Clair popped up and blocked the follow up to keep it 1-0.
But in the 70th minute, Columbus would push the advantage. Santos picked up the ball on the left side and worked it nimbly around several Minnesota defenders before lining up a shot on a tight angle and driving it hard directly at St. Clair. The ball caromed off the keeper’s hands and into the net to give the home side some breathing room.
Minnesota would make it interesting down the stretch, however. In the 88th minute, Gasper found room to run down the left wing and had enough time to pick out a well-weighted cross directly to the penalty spot. Midfielder Robin Lod lunged for it and hit a side-booted shot past goalkeeper Eloy Room to bring the visitors back within one.
In stoppage time, MNUFC very nearly stole a road point as Reynoso charged up the field on the break before getting taken down in a good spot for a free kick. The Argentine sent the long pass into the box and found the head of Aja, who tapped it ahead to defender Michael Boxall to nod into the back of the net. Unfortunately, the referee’s determination was that Aja had been offside on the initial pass, negating the goal as time expired and sending Minnesota home without a result.
ADRIAN HEATH ON NEARLY WALKING AWAY WITH A POINT
"Having seen it, you know, I don’t normally complain about stuff, but having just watched it, I don’t know what the rule is anymore, because, we get told to keep the flag down and let the play finish and then we’ll have a look at it after. And, from the clip that we’ve just seen, he’s not offside. So, disappointed. And that’ll be interesting to see what they say when they look at it. But, on the whole, I thought they would have been disappointed if they would have drawn the game, for sure. They were a good team. They’re well coached. Spent a lot of money on a lot of good players. As I said, when we played them down in Orlando, you know, I think they’re going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season."
KEI KAMARA ON HIS FIRST GAME WITH MNUFC
"Actually, I want to start this off by saying I can’t wait to be out there at the polls and finding my way to cast my vote November 3. So I’m encouraging everybody out there that’s on the fence thinking about whether or not they want to do it. Please, make your decision because every vote is going to count. We want to see the future be bright, be better for our kids and our kid’s kids and people after that. Unity is everything and we are still praying for that and still fighting for that and hoping for change. So that’s what I wanted to start this with…
"It was a tough day … a tough day, I’m just happy I was able to get out there with the boys and give my best (that I could) in this game, but at the end of the day it was a horrible decision at the end there, to kind of walk away with. I think they can definitely check that, that’s what VAR is for, so I’m really not happy. You know I’m going to give it your all as a player and you definitely want to make sure that everything else is going right and everybody’s doing their part."
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BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH
GOAL BREAKDOWN
- 31’ | Santos sends in a curling cross from the left side and Zelarayan gets inside of Gasper before drilling it past St. Clair. 1-0
- 70’ | Santos pushes deep into the box and then just rips a shot on an ultra-acute angle and buries it. It goes off St. Clair’s hands and into the goal. 2-0
- 88’ | Chase finds space on the left wing and crosses it to the penalty spot and Lod extends his left foot and hits a side-booted shot in to pull MNUFC back within one. 2-1
LINEUPS
UP NEXT
MINNESOTA UNITED vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
09.27.2020 | MLS Week No. 13 | MLS Game No. 14
7:00 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North, FOX Sports GO, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)
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