Minnesota United’s defense-first game plan was panning out almost to perfection Monday night through 70 minutes of an MLS Western Conference semifinal in San Diego.
The Loons were conceding a ton of possession but few scoring chances, and providing some threats on their own counter attacks.
Then San Diego’s do-everything attacker Anders Dreyer got space and ripped a powerful shot into the upper corner of the net in the 72nd minute for a 1-0 win at Snapdragon Stadium.
Top-seeded San Diego ended the fourth-seeded Loons’ season and will host second-seeded Vancouver in the West final at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Loons’ season ends in the Western Conference semifinal for a second straight year.
Dreyer headlined the Loons’ scouting report. The Dane won MLS newcomer of the year with 36 combined goals and primary assists — second to only Lionel Messi (45) this season.
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the second half heated up before play started. Loons coach Eric Ramsay and SDFC coach Mikey Varas exchanged words, and Ramsay shoved Varas, which drew a yellow card.
Then in the reopening stages, Robin Lod cut back inside the box and had an open goal, but Ian Picher made a goal-line clearance in the 47th minute.
In the 65th, Kelvin Yeboah’s breakaway attempt was cut down by SDFC backup goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.
Ramsay expected San Diego was going to dominate the ball in the first half and likely have more scoring chances, but they wanted to avoid giving up an early goal. That is what cost them against Los Angeles Galaxy in the West semifinal last year and nearly burned them in the first-round series against Seattle.
San Diego had nearly 80% of the ball — well above its MLS-leading 60% during the regular season — but Minnesota kept SDFC to zero shots on goal in the first half.
Varas wanted his team to test the Loons with overloads down the flanks, but it didn’t create breakthrough.
In the first half, Lod had the Loons’ two best chances, but his first shot in the 18th minute was blocked, and he couldn’t get enough on an attempt fed to him on a great diagonal pass from Pereyra in first-half stoppage time.
Ramsay made two changes to his starting XI on Monday. Center back Carlos Harvey stepped in for Jefferson Diaz, who has a thigh issue, and left wingback Anthony Markanich came in for suspended Joseph Rosales.
Minnesota’s front six stayed the same: Lod, Nectar Triantis, Wil Trapp, Joaquin Pereyra, Bongi Hlongwane and Yeboah.
The two teams split the regular-season series. San Diego won 4-2 in St. Paul in June, while Minnesota had a 3-1 victory in San Diego in September. San Diego had 66% in both its games against Minnesota in the regular season.
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