Recap: Loons fall flat in 3-2 loss to LA Galaxy

Minnesota United, flying high after a perfect start to their 2019 season, crashed back down to the earth in a 3-1 loss to the LA Galaxy.

Manager Adrian Heath was absent from the match as he recovers from dental surgery, so assistant coach Mark Watson took the helm. The starting lineup remained unchanged from the Loons’ first two victories of the season, with the only modification to the match day squad being Abu Danladi’s addition to the bench.

The Galaxy were clearly the better side of the first 35 minutes, peppering United’s box with crosses and testing goalkeeper Vito Mannone on occasion. The floodgates held firm until Ozzie Alonso nicked Uriel Atuna inside Minnesota’s penalty area. A moderately-lengthy VAR check confirmed the penalty, which Jonathan dos Santos easily converted.

The Galaxy weren’t done for the first half, though. After left back Francisco Calvo was sucked into the middle of the field, LA’s Rolf Feltscher found plenty of space to send a cross in for Chris Pontius directly in front of the net.

Looking much like their 2017/18 selves, the Loons entered halftime trailing by two goals.

Even after two substitutions — Ethan Finlay for Rasmus Schuller and Angelo Rodriguez for Romario Ibarra — Minnesota failed to look like an improved side, rather, just an increasingly frustrated one.

But immediately after Abu Danladi entered the game for Miguel Ibarra, a long range shot from Jan Greguš (assisted by Danladi) gave the Loons a potential foothold in the game.

Just as the pressure began to lift, the hammer fell as Sebastian Lletget secured his team’s three points by scoring the Galaxy’s third goal of the day.

Angelo Rodriguez netted his first of the season by mopping up a loose ball on the Galaxy’s goal line, but came up limping after the effort, and the rally ultimately fell short.