MNUFC ends its losing streak in Houston

Despite a weather delay on a hot day in Houston, Texas, Minnesota United overcame the weather conditions to end their losing streak tonight with a 1-1 draw against the Dynamo. Although the home side created more chances on the night, the visitors did enough to secure a positive result in what was a busy early performance.

Eric Ramsay’s 5-3-2 formation tonight saw Carlos Harvey return to the starting XI, this time as a right-sided centre-back alongside Michael Boxall in the middle and Miguel Tapias on the left. Full-backs Sang Bin Jeong and Devin Padelford provided width either side of the midfield trio of Hassani Dotson, Alejandro Bran and Joseph Rosales, while Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Robin Lod led the line.

The Loons were firing on all cylinders early in the game, stringing together fluid passes and showcasing Harvey’s quality on the ball at the back. Just four minutes into the game, two narrowly missed attempts from Rosales and Hlongwane almost gave the Loons the lead, but it seemed the chances came a little too early for both players.

The Black and Blue continued to be effective for several minutes, but as Houston wore on, chances became increasingly scarce. The hosts never really found their rhythm in the first half, although they did generate a few slightly threatening offensive sequences by upping their overall tempo. Alec Smir made two big saves to neutralize their more creative attempts, keeping the score tied at 0-0 at the break.

Dynamo started the first half strongly, with Ibrahim Aliyu coming close to rounding Smir to open the scoring in the 51st minute. But alas, the game remained goalless, with Smir closing down the spaces well and the Loons defence remaining calm and compact in the face of Houston’s onslaught.

The reinforcements started to arrive in the 59th minute, when Teemu Pukki replaced Alejandro Bran and pushed his compatriot Robin Lod back in midfield. I can’t say that Steve Clark took off his mask because he was afraid of Pukki, but I have to say that it seems like the most logical reason to unmask himself.

But he had a scare from the wrong Finn. In the 70th minute, the Loons remained high up after failing to convert a corner. Substitute Franco Fragapane’s outside-of-the-foot pass from the edge of the box found Rosales in the extension, and the Honduran’s subsequent cross found the feet of one Robin Lod. Lod’s deft touch deflected the ball just inside the post, squeezing it between the outstretched leg of a helpless Clark and giving the Loons the lead with his sixth goal of the season.

After scoring, the Loons once again adopted a 5-4-1 system in defence. El Naranja took advantage of the spaces he was given and made the most of them. Hector Herrera began to pull the strings from a deep position between his central defenders, setting up some truly magnificent passing sequences.

Although the Loons gave way without giving up for most of the game, it seemed inevitable that the hosts would find the gap given the type of football they were playing. It finally happened in the 82nd minute, thanks to Sebastián Ferreira who capitalized on the chaos created by a Houston corner. Other chances presented themselves on both sides, but in the end, the points were shared in this game.

Hassani Dotson was the standout player in the second half, shutting down passing lanes and getting involved in everything. His efforts led to what was a generally calm and professional effort from the Loons on the road, ending the losing streak and helping the team get back on its feet.

Minnesota United now sit ninth in the Western Conference, with 30 points from 23 games. They return to action at Allianz Field on Wednesday, July 17, when they take on Christian Benteke and DC United and will be looking to build on tonight’s result.