Recap: Minnesota draws with Chicago in what was a must win game

Minnesota United faced off with Chicago Fire last night at Allianz Field in both sides penultimate match of the 2020 MLS campaign. It didn’t start and nearly didn’t end in any way the Loons would have liked. Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first half before tacking on another in the second. MNUFC would come back to tie it at 2-2 but almost lost, however VAR saved the day for Minnesota. At the end of the night a single point is all the Loons could manage.

Due to a variety of factors, most being injury, Minnesota would start with quite a bit different of a Starting XI against the Fire. Kei Kamala would replace Aaron Schoenfeld up top while Ethan Finlay would start at the RW spot. Molino would shift to CAM while Lod would jump to the left side. Hairston would replace an injured Osvaldo Alonso while Jose Aja would take Michael Boxall’s spot.

Robert Beric would open up the scoring on the night for Chicago on this absolutely wonderful play from the visitors.

And while the score line wasn’t in favour of Minnesota United the stats sheet didn’t look too unbalanced after the first 45 minutes of play.

The first goal however, wouldn’t be the Fire’s only one on the night. Mauricio Pineda stuck in a second one for the away side in the 52nd minute.

However the Boys in Black and Blue wouldn’t let the team formerly nicknamed the Men in Red be the only ones to score. In the 64th minute, just after subs that put Reynoso and Schoenfeld on for Finlay and Kamara the Loons struck. José Aja would tap one right into the corner of the net to cut the deficit in half.

However Minnesota wasn’t done just yet as Robin Lod pulled out some magic in the 80th minute. After a nice cross from Romain Métanire, Lod buried it into the corner with a header to even the score.

The Loons would nearly lose it in stoppage time though, but thankfully VAR called this one back.