Minnesota United midfielder Bongi Hlongwane won the MLS goal of match day award for his no-look, back-heel flick in a 3-1 win over Houston on Wednesday.
Come Saturday, fellow Loons mid Joaquin Pereyra logged a candidate for top assist in the league this weekend. In the first half, the crafty Argentine toed the ball over the head of New York mid Felipe Carballo, Pereyra corralled it and laid it off for Kelvin Yeboah’s calm, equalizing goal in the 32nd minute.
The highlight won’t be as sweet after the Loons lost a 2-1 lead in the 90th minute and had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J.
MNUFC (9-4-7, 34 points) had been so tough to break down late in games, but have allowed goals in stoppage time in consecutive matches.
Ramsay pinpointed how Red Bulls would try to attack Minnesota — runners in behind Loons back line — and he was proven right early in the first half.
Forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting got behind Michael Boxall and collided with Loons goalkeeper Wessel Speel. The ball squirted to Emil Forsberg, who put Red Bulls ahead on the 11th minute.
Choupo-Moting got behind Boxall again to make it 2-2. His 11th goal of the season for New York (8-7-5, 29 points) keeps him in top five in league this season.
Speel’s right shoulder smashed in the grass and he was subbed out with an apparent right shoulder injury. With starter Dayne St. Clair with Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Loons had to turn to third-string keeper Alec Smir in the 20th minute.
After the Pereyra-Yeboah connection, Anthony Markanich gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead when he finished off a long throw-in from Boxall and a header from Jefferson Diaz. It was the Loons’ 11th goal off a set piece this season.
Markanich nearly had a second goal in the second half, but his header came off the woodwork in the 76th minute.
Briefly
Rookie goalkeeper Wessel Speel has signed a first-team contract with MNUFC through 2025, with club options for 2026-27. The 23-year-old Dutchman will take up one of the club’s two vacant international spots. … Honduras and Joseph Rosales beat Panama and Carlos Harvey in a Gold Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, meaning Rosales will stay away from MNUFC and Harvey is headed back to Minnesota. Both Harvey and Rosales made their PKs in the shootout in Glendale, Ariz.
Related Articles
Loons at New York Red Bulls: Keys to the match, storylines and a prediction
A wild stretch leads to Loons’ first win in Seattle
Frustrated Loons calmed down by Eric Ramsay after 1-1 draw with Austin
Rejuvenated Loons cruise to 3-0 win over St. Louis
David Beckham disgruntled over Minnesota United social media posts
Leave a Reply