Minnesota United remained unbeaten when scoring the first goal on Saturday, but one poor moment led to a 1-1 draw with Austin FC at Allianz Field.
Michael Boxall scored off a corner kick in the 16th minute, but Austin needed a pinpoint sequence on low-odds counter attack to level the game 11 minutes later.
Minnesota (7-3-5, 26 points) is now 7-0-3 when scoring first goal this season. Austin (5-6-3, 18 points) improved to 0-6-1 when conceding first.
Minnesota blew out Austin 3-0 on May 3 and had a much more difficult time breaking down the Verde defense on Satrurday.
Boxall opened up the scoring with his first goal of the season in the 16th minute. Off a corner kick from Joaquin Pereyra and a header from Nico Romero, the Loons captain and center back tapped it in with his noggin from a few feet out.
Boxall, an avid golfer on off days in the offseason, went to a putting celebration.
United’s lead held up for 11 minutes and was undone at a completely unexpected time.
The Loons had a throw-into the attacking third but Austin intervened and sprang an inch-perfect counter attack. Boxall, Julian Gressel and Wil Trapp feverishly tried to make up ground but Austin found Zan Kolmanic for a finish tucked into the far post.
Kelvin Yeboah, who ended his eight-match scoring drought against St. Louis in U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, subbed in during 61st minute. He and Tani Oluwaseyi both played as forward.
In a head-scratching contrast, Austin subbed out its two best attackers — Brandon Vazquez and Osman Bukari — in the 71st minute.
Boxall added quality defensive work with a game-saving tackle in the 90th minute.
Three tidbits
In a surprising decision, Anthony Markanich kept his position at left wing back despite Joseph Rosales’ suspension ending before for Saturday’s game. Markanich deserved to keep his spot after his two-goal game led Loons to U.S. Open Cup win over St. Louis on Wednesday. Rosales replaced Markanich at halftime; Markanich played 225 minutes over three games in eight days. … Entering Saturday, the Loons tallied at least three goals scored in three of previous four games for the first time since 2022. … Loons have an MLS-low 37% possession this season and radio play-by-play commentator Dan Terhaar joked about how Minnesota had nearly 50 percent in the first half. “That’s too much,” he kidded.
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