Recap: Comeback and Late goals again

Last night Minnesota United traveled to Los Angeles to face LAFC in the Loons 15th match of the 2021 season. Lining up, Heath had his side go in a totally different formula than normal. Rather than the 4-2-3-1 of the previous match he went with a 4-3-3 sitting Hunou and putting Reynoso, Lod, and Finlay in the top line.

Hansen would also be listed as a sub with Trapp, Hayes, and Dotson coming in as the middle line. None of the back four or goalkeeper were changed heading into Wednesday’s away match.

The formation also played into an entirely different style of attack than we’ve seen recently. The Loons would hold a low line and prevent Los Angeles from moving the ball into the box by holding ta large majority of the defensive effort at or near the top of the box. This also led to letting LAFC hold the ball much more than MNUFC and the Loons utilizing a counter attacking style.

This has worked before for Minnesota United and resulted in some great wins, the downside with how they play it is also by sending everyone up on the attack and leaving little to no one back. And when LAFC got their break they absolutely took advantage of it.

After getting a through ball from José Cifuentes on their own counter attack Carlos Vela was able to break out on his own down the last third of the pitch. Vela charged all the way to the top of the six and slipped a shot in just over the outside shoulder of Tyler Miller.

After exiting the first half down 1-0, Minnesota’s Emmanuel Reynoso evened up the match on a goal that words don’t do justice for.

Minnesota held the match at even for almost thirty minutes after the goal by Reynoso. But LAFC’s set piece did them in. Eduard Atuesta took the corner and the set piece ended with Tristan Blackmon heading it in to once again give the hosts the lead.

However, Minnesota wasn’t going to go down without a fight. Hassani Dotson corralled a ball in from Ján Greguš and hammered it home from the top of the box. Once again getting Minnesota points at the literal last moment.

Minnesota has now secured points in their last three matches with two wins and one draw. This places MNUFC in 6th place in the Western Conference. The Loons will be back in action on Saturday night at 9 PM CT as they travel to Sandy, UT and Rio Tinto Stadium to face the Vancouver Whitecaps.