Recap: MNUFC “at” Vancouver Whitecaps

For the second time in just a few days Minnesota United took to the road in the Western United States. This time heading to Sandy, Utah’s Rio Tinto Stadium to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC. After a draw on Wednesday night against LAFC the Loons were looking to take a win back to Minnesota.

Adrian Heath started the Loons in the same 4-3-3 formation they used against LAFC on Wednesday. Out of the 11 starters only one change was made, that was DJ Taylor coming replacing Chase Gasper at LB as Chase was out due to injury.

Using a Starting XI that had already played a full 90 minutes just a few days earlier the Loons held out the Whitcaps for the first 35 minutes. Vancouver would score the opening salvo on what was by all means a gorgeous play. A few passes then before sending the ball to a breaking out Cristian Dájome setup the charge to the goal.

With no defenders in front of him Dájome broke out alone towards the goal and then slipped it to the wide side of Tyler Miller for the opening goal.

Before half time the Loons would Ethan Finlay scored the goal to even up the match.

Minnesota wouldn’t go down again after scoring their first goal and 30 minutes into the second half they added a second one. Wil Trapp sent a through ball to Robin Lod who then cut to the side of the Whitecaps defender before sending it past Thomas Hasal.

Minnesota United held the lead until stoppage time. And it was then that a penalty was called and awarded to the Whitecaps. A breakdown of the play both sides were going for a loose ball. Ethan Finlay had the most direct route to the ball on the play. Dájome charged in from the side and used his arm to force himself in front of Finlay.

Dájome then swung his leg up and proceeded to take both himself and Finlay down. After this the referee awarded a penalty to the Whitecaps.

Cristian Dájome the buried the penalty to tie up the match at the end of stoppage time to even the match at 2-2 ending the trip out to Utah in a draw.