Recap: Three unanswered goals lead to loss for MNUFC

Last week Minnesota United was 0-3 after a 1-0 loss to Austin FC. This weekend the Loons came out and showed everyone that the offence can be very dangerous by taking a 2-0 lead in under 25 minutes. However in the second half Minnesota would give up three goals in 25 minutes en route to dropping their fourth match of 2021.

Last weekend the Loons would start in their standard 4-2-3-1 formation while this week Heath would “officially” line up in a 4-3-3. Lod and Gregus would return to the Starting XI replacing Ábila and Finlay.

Minnesota would once again dominate possession in the early going of the match and just 17 minutes in they would take a 1-0 lead. Reynoso would drill home a free kick to give Minnesota United their first lead of 2021.

Less than 10 minutes the Loons would strike again. Robin Lod would have a nice break down the field and send a low cross to Hassani Dotson. Dotson would instantly send the ball past Rapids keeper William Yarbrough to put MNUFC up 2-0.

At this point Minnesota would start to lay off the gas with a 2-0 lead and momentum started to shift for both sides. The Loons went from controlling possession to being dominated by the Colorado Rapids. However Minnesota was able to hold off the Rapids for the rest of the first half the same couldn’t be said for the second.

Kellyn Acosta would bring Colorado back into the match with a goal coming on a play that has to be seen to be believed.

Ethan Finlay would come on to replace Romain Métanire in the 67th minute. This would be the first of Minnesota’s four subs on the night.

Colorado would knot up the match in the 71st minute. The Rapids would move the ball fluidly down the pitch on a single play with little to no stopping. After a cross was sent in Dayne St. Clair would come off his line to prevent the cross from being successful. However he was unable to control the ball which allowed Cole Bassett to send the loose ball into the net for the match tying goal.

With the score tied up a 2-2 Adrian Heath would bring on Brent Kallman for Emmanuel Reynoso. After the match Heath would have this to say about the sub,

“Well, at that stage, I thought we were gonna lose the game. As it proved we did. I just wanted to get another defender on because they were putting a lot of balls in our box, and I thought another body in there might help us. But, it wasn’t be.”

Colorado would finish off the comeback in the 82nd minute with Jack Price sending a free kick cross into the box. Danny Wilson would finish the play with a header to score the Rapids third goal of the night.

Following the Rapids third and final goal Heath would bring on two more players, Juan Agudelo and Ramón Ábila in the 83rd minute to replace Robin Lod and Jukka Raitala.

With the Loons loss to Colorado they are now 0-4 in the 2021 season with zero points and sitting bottom of the Western Conference. One of the teams pegged to be a top player in Major League Soccer is now sitting as the only team without a single point.

Minnesota United will have their first two match week of the season as they face Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday followed by FC Dallas on Saturday. Wednesday’s match is set for an 8 PM kickoff with Saturday’s set for 7 PM, both matches can be seen on Bally Sports North PLUS and heard on SKOR North. Saturday’s match will also be broadcast on The CW Twin Cities.