Loons capture three big wins in eight day span

Minnesota United has had an amazing past 30 days, after falling to San Diego FC on 14-June, the Loons have gone on a five match unbeaten run through all competitions. A home win over Houston was followed by a disappointing draw to New York Red Bulls, in which MNUFC were leading into the 90th minute before a late RBNY goal. Following the draw it came time for Minnesota’s toughest stretch of the season, with three competitive matches and a friendly against Holstein Kiel in just eight days.

04-July @ FC Dallas (win 1 – 2)

The stretch opened in Texas with a showdown against FC Dallas on Independence Day at their temporarily 11,000 seat Toyota Stadium as it undergoes renovation. MNUFC had not won in Frisco, TX since February of 2023, though that was no issue on a hot Texas Friday night. Minnesota struck first when Julian Gressel sent a free kick into an unmarked Carlos Harvey, who headed it in to score his first ever MLS goal. Anthony Markanich scored what would go on to be the match winner in the 58th minute. Markanich’s goal also came from a set piece header, after Boxall threw in a long ball and Tani Oluwaseyi headed it towards the far side of goal where Markanich stood.

FC Dallas put their only tally on the board in the 78th minute, breaking a possible clean sheet with just 12 minutes plus stoppage to play. Ultimately with the Toros falling short and losing their third straight.

“We talked about this before the game, as a player in the huddle before the game, we said if we want to be the best, we have…these are the types of games we have to win,” said Anthony Markanich. “So, we really showed out today and proved that we can be the best and come to these difficult stadiums and get three points.”

08-July vs Chicago Fire (USOC, win 3 – 1 AET)

Four days later Minnesota United returned home to St. Paul for a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinal match with fellow midwestern side Chicago Fire. Heading into the match, the Fire had lost three of their last four matches and was shut out in two of them. With nothing much happening through the first 20 minutes, everything turned on it’s head in the 25th. After VAR review Chicago’s Omar Gonzalez was handed a red card for ‘violent conduct’ after a rough tackle on Julian Gressel in the Loons defensive third. But this didn’t upend the match immediately as Wil Trapp was issued a yellow card after a foul inside the box handing the Fire a penalty.

“It’s a little bit tricky when the opponent has a red card, because you kind of feel some kind of false security that the game’s going to be easy, said Robin Lod. “I think we could have been a little bit more patient with the ball, because we had the whole 45 minutes to chase it and score, but lucky to get another 30 minutes and we sealed the deal.”

Brian Guitérrez took to the spot and sent the shot past Dayne St. Clair to give the man down visitors up 1-0 less then 30 minutes into the match. Minnesota was unable to take advantage of being a man up until the second half. Following a triple-sub by Eric Ramsey’s side at the half, Robin Lod scored three minutes later to bring the match level. Though MNUFC was unable to strike again inside the 90 minutes, taking extra time to snatch the win. Kelvin Yeboah scored an extra time brace with his 95th and 120th minute goals to send the Loons to the USOC Semi-Finals in September.

12-July vs San Jose Earthquakes (win 4 – 1)

Another four days later, the Loons jumped back into league play for their second clash of 2025 with Bruce Arena’s San Jose Earthquakes side. After struggling to score early in the previous few matches, MNUFC came out with a bang and sealed the match before the halftime whistle. Tani Oluwaseyi notched the opener in the 3rd minute, Kelvin Yeboah added to the tally in the 42nd minute, and Anthony Markanich pounded in number three in first half stoppage time.

While San Jose scored in the 70th, again crushing a possibly clean sheet with 20 minutes to go, Minnesota did take a three goal win. Joseph Rosales’s second half stoppage time goal put the nail in the coffin sending the ‘Quakes back to California with a crushing defeat and for Minnesota it was a third win in eight days.

“I think it was a funny game, because in spells it was a team at its best, but I also feel like in spells it’s a team at its worst, said Eric Ramsey. “With all the good play, the chances, the excitement, the atmosphere, it was a phenomenal night, I can’t dispute that.

Loons News

• Minnesota United will host Austin FC in the US Open Cup Semifinal on the 17th of September. The club is also opening up all seats in the stadium for the first time in the tournament
• After being subbed off 20 minutes into the match against New York Red Bulls, Wessel Speel was confirmed to have suffered a shoulder injury
• Hoyeon Jung suffered a “serious knee injury” per Eric Ramsey and will be out for an unknown amount of time
• Per reporting from Tom Bogert, MNUFC is finalizing a deal to send Sang-Bing Jeong and Devin Padelford to St. Louis City. Padelford would be loaned to the struggling Western Conference side, while Jeong would be sold under the league’s newly instated cash trade option.