Minnesota United got back to winning ways Saturday night in its final home game of the regular season with a 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Loons left back Anthony Markanich and midfielder Joaquin Pereyra led the charge in what became a comfortable coast to three points at Allianz Field. Minnesota United met Kansas City, losers of now five straight, at the right moment as they needed to gain momentum and keep pace near the top of the Western Conference.
It was an unusually hot St. Paul night in early October, and a boisterous crowd set the stage for the penultimate game of the Loons’ MLS regular season. Loons on the front foot from the start got a foul by Sporting defensive midfielder Nemanja Radoja, in a threatening area, which allowed the Loons to put service into the box.
Joaquin Pereyra’s initial cross was cleared back out to the right to him, and he took it on himself to put one on net that forced Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp to make an early save.
Once again maneuvering in the midfield, Joaquin Pereyra was fouled by Memo Rodriguez and earned a free kick in a dangerous area. Pereyra swung in a beautiful ball that found Anthony Markanich, whose powerful header bounced off Pulskamp’s gloves, then off the frame of the goal and in to put the Loons up 1-0 in the 25th minute.
A wonderful season for the Loons’ left back as he netted his eighth goal of the season in the MLS. The goal by Markanich saw him tie Michel (FC Dallas, 2014) and Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards, 2006) for the second-most goals in a single regular season by a defender in MLS history.
Sporting’s leading goal scorer, Dejan Joveljic (18 league goals), showed off his playmaking with a deft flick that pierced Minnesota United’s backline for Mason Toye. In on goal in the 43rd minute, Toye, unable to keep his nerve, smashed it off Loons keeper Dayne St. Clair’s body.
A crucial save which kept Minnesota United ahead 1-0 at the break. The Loons held the majority of the possession (58%) through the first 20 minutes in a tweaked formation (4-2-3-1) from its last time out against Colorado. But fell off the pace after scoring in the 25th minute as Kansas City built momentum before halftime.
The Loons’ second goal came from a poor turnover by Kansas City near midfield in the 59th minute. Leaving Sporting susceptible to a swift counterattack started by Joaquin Pereyra, who then punished Sporting GK John Pulskamp for a weak attempt to push Robin Lod’s shot wide.
With their second goal, Minnesota United reached the 500-goal milestone as a club across all competitions.
On the third goal, Nectarios Triantis attacked down the right, curled in a cross and Markanich met it in the middle of the box with another forceful header past a diving Pulskamp in the 63rd minute.
A strong defensive performance by Minnesota United gave ‘keeper St. Clair his 10th clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win.
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