On the back of a late goal Minnesota United pulled out a draw on Saturday night in Utah. The Loons single point pushed the club back above the playoff line after a few weeks of being below the cutoff. Manager Cameron Knowles was happy to be only the second team in 2026 to get points out of an away match in Utah.
“To come back from going down a goal to a team that's won so many games at home and get a point is great. I think we're the second team to come here and take something out of Salt Lake. So in that sense, it's good. I thought in general, we did well in the first half, we had a good chance cleared off the line and a couple other looks, and I thought we started the second half quite well," said Cameron Knowles. "Then they [Real Salt Lake] got control and had some really good looks, and probably, you know, they're unfortunate not to go ahead before they score, and Drake's [Drake Callender] made a couple good saves in there as well, but we get the contribution we did from the bench, and Marcus [Caldeira], again, is exceptional.”
However the Loons have struggled offensively this season, scoring only 21 goals in MLS play so far this season. With seven first half shots and an expected goals (xG) near one, MNUFC failed to get the ball in goal during the first forty-five minutes of football. This has been a problem not just for this years side, but for a few seasons, though 2026 is the most extreme as it is the least amount of goals MNUFC have scored since the departure of Adrian Heath.
“We continue to work on it. I mean, I think some of the nature of the chances are a little bit difficult, somewhat half-chances. The clean looks we have I think are taken quite well," Knowles said to the media on Saturday night. "Can we continue to get the guys in better positions? Can we get them closer to goal? Can we get clear chances that we have a better chance of scoring? But I think to get that many chances, coming here at a difficult place to play, is a sign of good things.”
Defensively the club has been strong this season and held RSL to zero goals through 80 minutes of play, with only a late goal from RSL putting them on the board.
“I mean again, they should have scored earlier, it’s a well taken finish," said Cameron Knowles." He has had a great season and he is a player we talked about coming into the game about how dangerous he can be in the box. Unfortunate mistake that really on our part that led to that moment.”
The second half for Minnesota was massively different from the opening half of play. After allowing just three shots in the opening half, RSL managed 10 in the second half and an xG of over two in the final half.
CK on defensive perf “You start to get caught defending big spaces and transition moments. And I think there's a couple where, you know, even the bounce of a ball cost us a little bit in terms of our positioning; a slight deflection that sort of freezes us a little bit, but, you know, we have to be mindful of that," Knowles said about his sides defence. "There's a lot of dangerous teams in transition. We have to be mindful when we're up the field, what our shape looks like behind the ball, and are we positioned to put out those threats. They are, you know, one of the best transition teams in the league, their pace to goal is outstanding. And, you know, when they win the ball, how quickly they go forward is really impressive.”
