MNUFC’s Crazy Decision Day

The 2020 MLS Decision Day back on Sunday was as crazy as everyone expected. Philadelphia Union took the Supporters’ Shield during the Eastern Conference’s playing time frame. So the West had a lot to live up too. Well if you were a Minnesota United fan, then you know exactly how that went.

When the day started had everything held the Loons would have faced a rematch with FC Dallas in the opening round of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. That match would change rapidly throughout the evening.

The first change happened very early on in the matches when Carlos Vela put LAFC up 1-0 over Portland in the 5th minute. That goal dropped MNUFC to sixth place opposite of Portland, whom they would have had to play on the road. The 17th minute goal by Kevin Molino changed that and changed the trajectory of the playoffs for MNUFC. Minnesota jumped from 6th to 4th place where they were set to face LAFC.

For most of Sunday night this is how things would stay and it appeared that the Loons would host the LA team they didn’t face in 2019 in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Colorado’s Younes Namli changed the trajectory, albeit temporarily, with his 61st minute goal. But in the 69th minute Mauro Manotas drew that match even for Houston Dynamo and sent the match back to being Minnesota vs Los Angeles FC.

And as Minnesota’s dominating win over FC Dallas drew to a close it appeared that it would stay as it had for most of the night. But Portland had some other plans than letting LAFC win. Jorge Villafaña scored a 90th minute goal for the Timbers, which not only tied that game but set the Loons to rematch with FC Dallas.

And even as the Loons defeated the Toros it looked as if a rematch was in the cards for the playoffs. Adrian Heath even was interviewed post match on FSNorth about the teams playing again in the MLS Cup Playoffs Quarter-Finals. Colorado would change all of that with a stoppage time goal by Diego Rubio in the 90+3’ against Houston.

Adrian Heath talked about that change with the press post match on Sunday, saying:

“The thing is, it’s been so unpredictable. And then the last day has been so unpredictable. I actually did an interview on the field and somebody told me we got FC Dallas and I’m thinking, there you go. Then, I get told it’s Colorado. We know it’s not going to be easy, we played them here recently. It was tight. But, you know, the one thing about Colorado is they’re probably really fresh. They missed that many games. They haven’t traveled. They’ve been at home. So, hey. And I don’t think they’ve got any internationals either. You know, it’s going to be tough for us, but, hey, if we show the same commitment and desire that we’ve shown this evening, anything is possible.”

Minnesota United will host the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, November 22nd at 6:30 PM. The match will be broadcast on ESPN and SKOR North, as with the regular season the match will be played behind closed doors at Allianz Field.