Recap: Loons winning streak ends with draw at Real Salt Lake

Minnesota United came into Sandy, UT with a 7 game winning streak to their name. They would leave not having lost the match, but lost the streak to a 1-1 draw with the hosting RSL side.

Quite a few changes came to this lineup from the one last Saturday against FC Dallas. Heath kept the Loons in his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup. With Romain Métanire back from International duty in the African Cup of Nations he took the right back spot while Dotson shifted up into an LDM roll. Darwin Quintero would play the forward position over Angelo Rodríguez, who is not listed on the matchday roster due to an ankle injury. While Mason Toye would also shift into the CAM role typically played by Quintero.

A very low action, and frankly painfully boring first half opened up the match. The only “highlights” were Ethan Finlay getting a flying knee to the head inside the box and the booking of Real Salt Lake’s Brooks Lennon and Minnesota’s Jan Gregus.

The Loons would be the ones to give the match it’s desperately needed spark just 12 minutes to the second half. Jan Gregus would come down the field unmarked and put a shot on goal that required RSL keeper Nick Rimando to make a save and force the ball out of play. The ensuing corner was put directly to Mason Toye who headed the ball towards Quintero who directed the ball into the goal for the first goal of the night.

Immediately following that goal Salt Lake subbed Corey Baird in for Sebastián Saucedo. Shortly after Miguel Ibarra came in for Kevin Molino for Minnesota United.

Marcelo Silva evened the score with a goal for RSL, after a corner was pushed out of the box Jefferson Savarino sent a clean pass to an unmarked Silva at the penalty spot where he finished the play.

Abu Danladi would come in for Mason Toye in the 79th minute to try and provide more scoring options after the Loons gave up a goal in the 70th minute. Minnesota would use their final sub in a more defensive manner in the 87th minute seeing Lawrence Olum come on for Darwin Quintero.

The Loons did not give up and lay back without offense in the final minutes of the match, while RSL dominated possession, as they had all night. MNUFC however would manage a few good chances to get them close to a second goal, but alas the winning goal wouldn’t come.

After 7 matches in 22 days the Loons will finally get a break and not see a midweek match. Next Saturday night Minnesota United will host Vancouver Whitecaps back at Allianz Field in St. Paul.