Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay believed Kelvin Yeboah could use a deep breath in order for the striker to overcome his long scoring drought.
“He really does try to turn over every stone to get himself in a good position,” Ramsay said Tuesday. “It’s striking a balance between that and also relaxing a little bit.”
Yeboah wasn’t stressing when he calmly flicked on a Julian Gressel cross in the 10th minute.
The Loons defense didn’t pass its stress test in the second half, falling behind 2-1, but two goals from United left wing back Anthony Markanich saved United in a 3-2 win over St. Louis City in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 on Wednesday at Allianz Field.
MNUFC beat St. Louis in MLS play on Saturday to send City to its 10th straight match without a win and squashed hopes of ending the skid Wednesday.
The Loons’ draw for its quarterfinal matchups will be Thursday morning.
Markanich scored the equalizer in the 86th minute and the game-winner in the 88th minute. Both were assisted by Joaquin Pereyra.
Markanich has now scored in three of his last four games, including MLS finishes against Inter Miami and Austin.
Yeboah had seen playing time diminish in recent MLS games, but used the national tournament to snap a scoring drought that stretched over eight injury-interrupted matches and more than 560 minutes since his brace in the 2-2 draw with L.A. Galaxy on March 22.
The Loons gave up that lead within 10 minutes of the second half.
After an initial save from Wessel Speel, St. Louis sent an ensuing cross to a wide-open Marcel Hartel in the 6-yard box. He easily converted the equalizer in the 56th minute without a Loons center back challenging him. Speel raised his arms in the air, with little he could do.
Nine minutes later, Joao Klauss beat Loons center back Morris Duggan for a header goal at the back post.
The Loons made two halftime changes at center back, taking off Carlos Harvey and Nico Romero and bringing in Michael Boxall and DJ Taylor.
MNUFC made two attacking changes — Robin Lod and Pereyra — in the 64th minute. The sub moved Sang Bin Jeong to right wing back and he was beat on the cross that led St. Louis’ go-ahead goal.
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