So close but so far was the theme on Saturday night in St. Paul. After going down inside the first 15 minutes the Loons took a 2–1 lead, one they held into the half. But a pair of Galaxy goals after the hour mark put the visitors back up and gave MNUFC a deficit they were unable to come back from.
After a full week of rest Cameron Knowles kept his side mostly the same for Saturday night's home match against LA Galaxy. Only two players, those being Morris Duggan and Marcus Caldeira jumped into the starting eleven. Duggan replaced Michael Boxall, who missed the match due to yellow card accumulation. Caldeira slotted in for Tomás Chancalay as part of a two-man top line.
LA Galaxy made three changes from their last outing, a one-one draw with Seattle Sounders.
Northland Soccer Journal
LA Galaxy started off on the front foot, not only in control of the match, but also with the first real chance and opening goal. Six minutes into the match the Galaxy got a chance from the near side, but the shot missed extremely high and into the Wonderwall. Less than five minutes later Carlos Harvey fouled Julián Aude just outside the box and set up the Galaxy for a free kick in a very dangerous spot.
Galaxy midfielder Pablo Ruiz took the free kick and buried it into the upper near side corner. Ruiz's shot was well out of the reach of Drake Callender and put the Galaxy up 1–0 in the eleventh minute.
Pablo Ruiz's 11th minute goal for LA Galaxy
It took a bit to answer back but Minnesota did just that a little over ten minutes after the LA goal. Wil Trapp sent a long arching pass into the box. Marcus Caldeira timed his run to perfection and was able to get his head on the end of the ball to draw the match level.
Marcus Caldeira's 23rd minute goal for MNUFC
Minutes later the Loons lucked into a penalty kick. On his was towards goal Anthony Markanich was fouled just inside the box by Jakob Glesnes. The official pointed to the spot without hesitation following the foul. VAR took a bit longer than expected to review the play but did confirm the call and Kelvin Yeboah stepped up to the penalty spot. Yeboah easily beat Galaxy keeper JT Marcinkowski to put the Loons up 2–1 at the half hour mark.
Kelvin Yeboah's 30th minute penalty kick goal for MNUFC
Both teams came out of the half with the same eleven they started the match with. Minnesota continued to play the same style they finished the first half with. Take time on the ball, work it around, and break down and through the Galaxy defence. Minnesota got a few major chances inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
Kelvin Yeboah and Marcus Caldeira each came very close to securing a brace. Yeboah's came in the 56th minute, but his shot was blocked the the LA defence who were able to meet Yeboah in the box. Caldeira's came just a few minutes later, where he got on the end of a long ball. Caldeira got his shot off but Galaxy keeper JT Marcinkowski was just able to make the save.
Once the clock ticked over past the 60th minute the two clubs styles flipped again. MNUFC dropped back and played defensively to protect the lead, while breaking out on well-timed counter attacks. LA Galaxy on the other hand slowed their pace to work the ball around and break down the Loons defence. It did take a while, but the Galaxy did break through and get a goal.
A foul from Tomás Chancalay setup the Galaxy with a free kick from outside the box. Marco Reus sent the free kick in and João Klauss got on the end of it to draw the match level in the 76th. Less than five minutes later the Galaxy added another tally when Marco Reus found himself on the end of a cross and put the shot in goal from close range.
MNUFC was unable to pull at least one goal back and fell to LA Galaxy, extending their losing streak to four on the trot. Minnesota now has a full week of training before heading back out to the Pacific Northwest. Next week MNUFC will face Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field, a place the Loons have only ever managed a single regular season win at. With eight matches left to go, every match from here on out is do or die.
