Recap: Late goal by Gregus not enough to overcome LA Galaxy

Minnesota United fell 2-1 to LA Galaxy in the Loons first playoff match since 2015 and first one since entering Major League Soccer tonight at Allianz Field.

Even with two weeks between matches Adrian Heath stuck with his standard 4-2-3-1 and a similar starting XI to the Seattle match with only two changes. Kevin Molino and Robin Lod in for Darwin Quintero and Hassani Dotson.

Minnesota started the first half with a very fast pace and good control over the pitch. That control did result in some very very good chances but all of them we’re blown with wide and or high shots in the end. Unfortunately most of the shots for the Loons would end very similar to this.

LA Galaxy’s best chance in the first 45’ came in the 30th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was able to fire a 30 yard shot near but just wide of the goal.

The second 45’ started out on a slower pace then the first but it still was similar with both teams not being able to get much on goal. The Loons first sub was used quite early when Adrian Heath brought Darwin Quintero off the bench to replace Ethan Finlay in the 60th minute. 7 minutes later Mason Toye was brought on to replace Angelo Rodriguez as the striker.

It would be in the 71st minute when Sebastian Lletget finished a very messy play just outside the 6 to put LA up 1-0.

Not even four minutes later Jonathan dos Santos struck for the Galaxy with a shot from 20 yards out beating a diving Vito Mannone to make it 2-0 Galaxy.

Following that goal Heath used his final sub to bring Abu Danladi on in place of Robin Lod in the 77th minute.

Minnesota got on the board late in the match when Jan Gregus struck from outside the box to score on a ball from Darwin Quintero passed from the side of the 18.