Match Recap: A Collapse of Minnesota Proportions

March 21, 2025
|In MNUFC
|By Ashle Paige
Minnesota United staring eleven before their match against Sporting Kansas City | Photo Courtesy of MNUFC

Last weekend Minnesota United started off hot with a 2–0 lead at the half. After taking a 3–0 lead in the second half, the match looked like a clear and away three points. But then in spectacular Minnesota fashion the Loons gave up three straight goals to the not Wizards, to leave Kansas City with just a single point on the night.

With the Loons very strong coming into matchday three, Eric Ramsey made minimal changes to the Starting XI from the week before in San Diego. Robin Lod moved up top to replace Kelvin Yeboah while Joaquín Pereyra slotted in to Lod’s spot at left mid. Carlos Harvey was the defenses lone change swapping in for Jefferson Diaz.

Match 🧵 | Matchday 4 #SKCvMINJust a few changed for #MNUFC tonight against #SKC, Robin Lod replacing Kelvin Yeboah (available from bench) up top. Joaquín Pereyra slotting in at left mid and Carlos Harvey replacing Jefferson Diaz on the back line.Kickoff listed for 7:15 and will happen appx 7:24

— Northland Soccer Journal (@northlandsoccer.com) 2025-03-15T23:28:08.079Z

Minnesota United started in complete and total control of the match, something they would maintain through the hour mark of the night. It took just over a quarter-hour before the Loons put themselves on the board with a goalazo from Hassani Dotson. Wil Trapp said about the goal, “It was an amazing strike. We know he [Hassani Dotson] is capable of that, but it’s always good to see when it comes out. It’s a wondergoal, truly.”

"AN ABSOLUTE HOWITZER" Hassani Dotson's golazo #MNUFC

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) 2025-03-16T00:51:26.684Z

In the 31st minute Tani Oluwaseyi put the Loons up 2-0, when he scored the first of his two goals on the evening. MNUFC took that lead into the half and looked to be waltzing their way to only their second win in Kanasas. Just after the second half kicked off, Oluwaseyi put the black and blue up 3-0 snatching a brace in the process. Through 50 minutes everything was coming Minnesota, but after 20 more minutes of control, Minnesota sports caught up to the Loons.

After a few changes for MNUFC where Sang-Bin Jeong and Jefferson Diaz came on to replace Oluwaseyi and  Pereyra, SKC’s Daniel Salloi gave the hosts some life with a 68th minute goal. Four minutes later Morris Duggan put in an own goal and suddenly with a quarter-hour to play, it was anyone’s match to win.

“We just made some really poor decisions in the defending box in some of the basic things. I think if you look at each of the three goals—so, first goal, we don’t deal with the ball over the top. For 65 minutes, we dealt with it very comfortably,” said Eric Ramsey.

In front of an emptying stadium, the not-Wizards capped off their comeback with an 80th minute strike from twelve yards out by Dejan Joveljic.

Late into stoppage time, Sang Bin had an opportunity to score from well inside the box, skied it directly over the crossbar, sealing the Loons fate. After an incredible start for Minnesota, MNUFC left Kansas with just a single point after a 3-3 draw.

“We are all disappointed. It’s unacceptable to be winning 3-0 and to end it the way we did. There’s obviously individual moments, there’s collective moments, it’s a disappointing result to leave here without three points,” Wil Trapp said to the media.

If a positive could be found from the draw it was forward Tani Oluwaseyi. He was named as both the MLS and North American Soccer Reporters Player of the Matchday for his performance and brace in Kansas City. Along with goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, he will represent Canada this weekend in the Concacaf Nations League finals in California.

Eric Ramsay MNUFC Sporting Kansas City Tani Oluwaseyi Wil Trapp