Loons return home to frustrating draw with Houston Dynamo

Entering on the back of a five match losing streak, the Loons needed a win more than anything on Saturday night. Three points would mean the club stood a fighting chance to make the playoffs. A loss on the other hand would not doom their playoff chances, but put a heavy damper on them. Unfortunately for the Loons after a late goal from Houston to level the match another home draw ended up being the result.

Cameron Knowles made a number of changes to the starting eleven due to injuries and of course some standard rotation. AZ Jackson got the start up top replacing the injured Pereyra. Cherrion Valerius also made his first start for the black and blue while Kayne Rizvanovich was available from the bench as the Loons backup goalkeeper.

Opening part of the first half was controlled by Houston, with the orange controlling the pace and momentum. Houston took less than 20 minutes to score the opening, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. Mateusz Bogusz chipped a ball just past Boxall and the Minnesota back line.

Lyle Foster was able to scurry his way to the ball first and break out wide open down the pitch. Foster finished the play with a shot from the penalty spot that beat Drake Callender to his right and put the visitors up 1–0.

Minnesota recovered somewhat during the remainder of the first half of football. MNUFC controlled the momentum of the match and took six shots, with two going on target. Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond saved both of those shots, sending the match to the dressing room with Dynamo in the lead.

Just three minutes into the second half Minnesota answered back to Houston. Morris Duggan whipped a through ball into the box that a sliding Kelvin Yeboah got on the end of and put the ball into the opposite corner. Yeboah's goal, his 15th of the season, breaks the Loons MLS single season scoring record. A record that has been long held by Christian Ramirez from the team's 2017 season.

Editors Note: the all-time NASL & MLS combined record is still held by Christian Ramirez with 21 goals during the 2014 season.

Following the goal Houston took control of possession, though not the momentum of the match. Houston held as much as 67% possession during parts of the second half, but only managed one shot and 0.07 xG during the first 30 minutes of the second half of play.

Right around the 70th minute mark Jonathan Bond knocked his head on the turf. Just a few minutes later the Dynamo goalkeeper was heading down the tunnel and backup Blake Gillingham stepped in as a concussion. Three minutes after the American keeper took the pitch, MNUFC slotted home a second goal of the match.

Cherrion Valerius cut to Caldeira at the near post. Caldeira was able to clip it in past Gillingham, who was just one stride from the endline. Caldeira 6th goal in just ten appearances for the senior squad put the Loons up 2–1 with just over ten minutes plus stoppage to play.

Minnesota United put then tried to hold out during the last 12 minutes and stoppage. However the Loons would allow a late goal from Dynamo as Duncan McGuire got on the end of a freekick heading the ball past Callendar. McGuire, scoring his first goal for Houston, silenced Allianz Field with the match tying header. MNUFC was not able to tack on a third goal, with the match ultimately ending in a draw and the Loons losing two points at home.

Now Minnesota United has to prepare for another two match week coming up this week. First on Wednesday is a trip to Colorado to face 8th place Colorado Rapids. After the trip to Commerce City the Loons will return to St. Paul for a home showing against St. Louis City. Once next week finishes the Loons will have just four matches and three weeks to make the playoffs.