Recap and Notebook: Loons score late to draw with Real Salt Lake

After a week long break Minnesota United resumed play for a one off match with Real Salt Lake before the upcoming International break.

After playing with a 4-2-3-1 against FC Dallas two weeks ago the Loons would shift back to a 4-3-3. Adrien Hunou made his debut for MNUFC as centre forward with Lod to his right and Dotson to his left. Trapp, Hayes, and Gregus made up the midfield and Dibassy took Kallman’s place at LCB in the back line. Tyler Miller once again took to the goal for Minnesota.

Continuing the winning streak would prove much tougher than expected as Damir Kreilach scored inside the first quarter hour to put the home side up 1-0.

“I’ll have to see it again. But, obviously, the first rule of any defending: You don’t turn off. You don’t turn your back to the game. So, we’ve gone from a relatively dangerous position to a really dangerous position and we know that [Aaron] Herrera has got quality.” Adrian Heath stated post match. “If you give people an opportunity to put the ball in the box, eventually. We spoke about [Damir] Kreilach before the game. He’s a real threat. Big size. Good timing. So, you know, it was a difficult start for us, for sure.”

Minnesota United did statistically hold possession for the entire match but that didn’t help in terms of shots on goal. The Loons only managed a single shot on target the entire night but that shot would even up the match late in the second half.

Niko Hansen would technically score a goal on what was a very very odd play that saw RSL keeper Zac MacMath knocked the ball down. That ball ended up hitting Hansen and going into the goal to score MNUFC’s only goal of the match and even the scoreline to 1-1.

Niko Hansen would say post match about the goal.

“Right place, right time. I think I found myself in a good spot right there. Played it off of Chase [Gasper] and they weren’t really marking on the front post so I just went for it. It was a little bit ahead of me but, like I said, right place, right time.”

Minnesota United will head into the International Break for the next two weekend before returning to action on Saturday, June 19th against FC Dallas. The Loons second match with the Toros will come at Toyota Stadium with kickoff time of 7:30 PM. MNUFC returns home on Wednesday, June 23rd for Pride Night to face Austin FC in the second of three matches against the expansion side this year. Kickoff will take place at 7 PM at Allianz Field. Both matches can be seen on Bally Sports North and heard on SKOR North.