Recap: Loons fail to pick up points in Ohio

Tonight was not Minnesota United’s night as the Loons fell to the home side Columbus Crew SC by a score of 2-1. A first half goal by Columbus would open the scoring but the Loons would stay in it when Lucas Zelarayán missed a PK before the break. Pedro Santos would get the second goal for Columbus at the 70th minute mark before Minnesota tied it late and almost came back to tie.

The Loons would make another massive set of changes coming into the match against the Crew. Dibassy, Gregus, Molino, and Toye would be out of the Starting XI and out of those four only Toye would be in the Matchday 18 uh I mean 17 today. In their place would be Aja, Hayes, Chacón, and debuting for the Loons, Kei Kamara.

Opening the scoring on the night was Columbus Crew when Pedro Santos sent this ball into the box and Lucas Zelarayán finished it off with a MASSIVE diving header to give the Crew a 1-0 lead.

Just before the halftime whistle blew Chase Gasper would foul Luis Díaz just inside the penalty area giving the Crew a PK. Dayne St. Clair has already saved one PK this season, last weekend in Houston against Darwin Quintero. His skills however would not be needed as Zelarayán would fire the shot into the stratosphere.

In the 69th minute the Loons would make their first of only two changes on the night. This one being when Raheem Edwards came on for Thomás Chacón, the young DP who made his first start with MNUFC this night.

In the following minute Columbus would get back on the board for a second time however. Santos would come into the box with the ball and work his way near the end line, before shooting from an unreal angle to beat Dayne St. Clair and extend the lead to 2-0.

However the Loons would not be shutout on the night. Chase Gasper would send a cross into Robin Lod, who finished the play with a beautiful shot to get the Loons on the board.

Minnesota would nearly even the score in stoppage time on a goal from Michael Boxall, however per the referee Boxall was offside. A quick VAR check was done and upheld the call. This would end the night with a 2-1 loss in Ohio for MNUFC.