Match Recap: Yeboah’s goal is the difference as Loons snag three points in San Jose

Minnesota United FC continued their 2025 season on Saturday the 8th of March with a showdown in the Bay Area against San Jose Earthquakes. The high flying 2-0 Quakes were the staff favourite to take the win, after having scored six goals in their previous two matches. The Loons on the other hand had struggled to score managing just a single goal on 26 total shots. At the end of the night though, Minnesota United took a huge win over Bruce Arena’s San Jose side, once again snagging it off a Kelvin Yeboah goal.

Eric Ramsey’s side made only two changes from the Matchday 2 victory against CF Montréal. Wil Trapp and Jefferson Diaz slotted in for Joaquin Pereyra and Carlos Harvey in Ramsey’s preferred 5-3-2 formation.

Match 🧵 | Matchday 3 #SJvMINStarting XI for #MNUFC and #Quakes74 (got it this time!)Two changes for the Loons with Wil Trapp and Jefferson Diaz coming into the XI replacing Joaquin Pereyra & Carlos Harvey. Both players are available from the bench tonight.

— Northland Soccer Journal (@northlandsoccer.com) 2025-03-09T03:06:38.676Z

Reminiscent of the previous weekend, the first half of play was dominated by the defensive efforts of both sides. It was in the 32nd minute that Kelvin Yeboah scored his second goal of 2025 off an assist from Michael Boxall, breaking the defensive monotony of the opening half.

How sweet that goal is #MNUFC

— Northland Soccer Journal (@northlandsoccer.com) 2025-03-09T04:23:05.470Z

After a first half that was almost entirely dominated by the defensive efforts of both sides, the second half switched gears. San Jose took 13 shots of their 15 total shots in the second half, though only three actually went on target. While having to focus defensively, Minnesota still snapped up another six shots with three more going on target, but none finding the back of the goal.

“I think we suffered more than we needed to,” said Eric Ramsey. “I just said to the players that there, it’s almost like we enjoy the suffering, we enjoy defending the box, because I think we could have made the game far easier for ourselves.”

Minnesota’s win pushed the Loons to 2-1 with six points through three matches and gave Dayne St. Clair his 50th win. MNUFC continues their road swing this upcoming week with an away match against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday the 15th of March. Kickoff is set for 7:15 pm and will be available on MLS Season Pass and shown nationally on FS1.