Friday night's match in St. Paul was probably Minnesota United's best overall performance in quite a while and it came against Mexican powerhouse UANL Tigres. While Tigres dominated the stat sheet and had nearly 20 shots, they failed to put more than a pair on target. Most of the best chances went to the Loons, who ultimately couldn't break their offensive struggles to score, sending the match to penalties where Tigres won 4–2.
Another match with only two days of rest meant quite a few changes for Cameron Knowles side on Friday night. Four players were changed from the Loons loss to Juárez with Michael Boxall, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Wil Trapp, and Joaquín Pereyra coming into the starting eleven. Those four replaced Devin Padelford, Kyle Duncan, Kelvin Yeboah, and Jefferson Díaz all of whom were available from the bench.
Northland Soccer Journal
Minnesota started the first half of football on the front foot, getting a couple of chances in the opening few minutes of play. Three corner for MNUFC inside the first quarter hour had the "visitors" looking very strong to open the match. Defensively MNUFC was also playing very strong, all0wing Tigres to shoot, but practically only from low percentage areas outside the box.
Twenty minutes in and Minnesota United nearly found the back of goal for the first time on the night. Anthony Markanich floated a cross into the box that Owen Gene got his head on and directed at goal. But Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzmán made an incredible save to keep the match nil-nil.
As the clock ticked closer to the half-time break, a near match changing foul happened inside the Tigres defensive box. Anthony Markanich was fouled inside the box and after an extended VAR review, Minnesota was awarded a penalty. Joaquín Pereyra stepped up to the spot to take the kick and smashed it off the crossbar, in what was Minnesota's best chance of the night to score. With a missed penalty the match headed to the break with a nil-nil scoreline
Northland Soccer Journal
Getting through the first with eight shots and none on target, Tigres were frustrated coming out of the break. Minnesota proceeded to change tactically, taking quite a lot of time with the ball and slowly building up the attack. Forcing Tigres to chase after the ball worked well enough for the Loons to get a few chances at goal, including a shot from Joaquín Pereyra. Pereyra's curving shot from outside the box went just over the bar, hitting the top of the net.
Tigres took 75 minutes to get their first shot on target of the night, which ended with Alec Smir punching it wide and out of touch. Minnesota continued their second half control with another huge change in the 78th minute. Once again Markanich got open on a corner, got his head on the end of it, but just sent the ball wide and out of touch.
With time ticking away and the hopes of three points fading the match took a turn for the physical and chippy. Two yellow cards were handed to Minnesota in the space of just two minutes, which didn't do much to change the intensity of the match. Minnesota was unable to score in the final few minutes, sending the match to a shootout that Tigres would take 4–2.
Next for Minnesota United they will host Atalante in their final Leagues Cup match of 2026 next Tuesday at Allianz Field.
