NFL
By Steve Rogers
The Minnesota United FC squad has put together back-to-back wins against two of the conference’s top teams. Last Wednesday, the Loons went out to L.A. to face the Galaxy. Coming into that contest, they were sitting in 12th place in the west. Mn had just ten shots, and six of those were on target. Three of the six on-target shots made it to the back of the net. Good for 50% accuracy. On the flip side, the Galaxy had 16 shots, but only seven were on target. With them finding the back of the net only twice, their accuracy was much lower at 28.5%.
Emmanuel Reynoso got the scoring started early on, ripping one by the goalkeeper in the ninth minute. Not long after, during the 24th minute, Kevin Cabral of the Galaxy received a red card. Precisely 12 minutes later, Franco Fragapane took the pass from Kamar Lawrence and put it in the net. A whopping seven minutes later and moments before halftime Reynoso strikes again for his second goal of the first half and gives the Loons a three-nill lead. Bongokule Hlongwane had an assist on the play. In the second half, the Galaxy tried to mount a comeback, scoring on a penalty kick was Marco Delgado in the 60th minute. Then they scored again three minutes into the extra time on a goal by Dejan Joveljic. MN United FC was able to hang on and pick up a huge road win and major confidence booster against the Galaxy, who are in third place in the western conference. That win moved the MN United FC into 10th place in the western conference.
They then returned home to take on the Real Salt Lake on Sunday. RSL is in fourth place in the western conference. The Loons led both in shots with 18 and in shots on target with seven. RSL had 12 shots, four on target. But for the second game in a row, the Loons were behind in time of possession 55% to 45%. Once again, Reynoso kicks off the scoring. Ironically at exactly the ninth minute again. Three minutes in the extra time before the half, Reynoso earned a penalty kick, which he missed, but the rebound came right back to his left foot, and he buried it for his second goal of the half for the second straight game, which gave the Loons a two nothing lead at the half. In the 61 minute, Reynoso nailed a perfect cross-field pass to a streaking Luis Amarilla, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, juked, and hit a beautiful chip over the goalie’s shoulder into the net for another goal. Extending the Loons lead to three. RSL was down, but they put on a surge late that had the home crowd concerned. RSL got their first at the 71-minute by Jefferson Savarino. Five minutes later, Savarino set up Anderson Julio for a goal. MN United FC managed to fend off the offensive wave and give the home crowd a reason to sing, with a 3-2 victory. As tradition dictates singing, they did serenading the team with “Wonderwall.”
Grabbing a much-needed three points jumped them to eighth place in the western conference. Putting them neck and neck with the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are in ninth based on goal differential. What a coincidence the Loons will be headed to Vancouver to face off on Friday. All-time these two teams are in a dead heat 3-3-3. Coming into this match, the two have identical season records of 7-8-3. Not to be taken lightly, The Whitecaps, in their most recent match on Saturday, beat LAFC, the number one club in the West. Can the Loons keep riding this run to three in a row? Find out Friday @ 9:30p.m. CT. Get Game Day ready HERE! As always, scarves up, MN!
