It was a chilly evening in Sandy, Utah on Tuesday, but Minnesota United’s hot finish to the regular season would serve as a springboard into the First Round of the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. And, if this opening match of the series was any indication, the Loons aren’t about to take their foot off the gas in terms of momentum, as this goalkeeping classic between MNUFC’s Dayne St Clair and RSL’s Zac MacMath would end with your Loons coming out on top 5-4 in sudden death penalty kicks to take a 1-0 series lead over three-seed Real Salt Lake.

Much of the pace and play seen throughout the match felt eerily reminiscent of the last time these two squads met at America First Field, a scoreless draw back on October 2. Thankfully, the Loons were able to avoid an early crisis in the 13th minute, courtesy of Dayne St Clair, who made an outstanding left-legged kick-save on Diego Luna’s close range shot on goal. In fact, St Clair was absolutely pivotal to the Loons getting the victory, as he would make crazy athletic, borderline magical saves throughout the match that would keep MNUFC’s net clean until the end of regulation.

The Loons’ defensive third held their own against RSL’s attack for much of the first half. They would make the most of opportunities to push forward, tucking inside to provide more firepower on the attack. But, when it was time to turn the screws and apply pressure, the Loons would close quickly whenever RSL had the ball at their feet, limiting much of RSL’s space to operate and make plays.

MNUFC would come out of the locker room with a new air of confidence on the attack, with Robin Lod and Kelvin Yeboah charging the box to keep RSL keeper Zac MacMath on his heels. Lod, Yeboah, and Carlos Harvey would each have their cracks at breaking the stalemate at the top of the second half, but none would find net.

Crisis nearly came knocking again in the 52nd minute when RSL’s Chicho Arango would catch the Loons’ defensive third napping, slipping a sneaky through ball to Diego Luna. Once again, Dayne St Clair would charge Luna’s attempt near the 18-yard line, stifling his space and shutting down the shot at the point of attack.

Coach Ramsay would hit the jets on his attacking third in the 68th minute, when Tani Oluwaseyi and Sang Bin would spell Lod and Pereyra. The fresh pair of speedsters would make a near instant impact for the Black and Blue, producing what were likely the two most golden of the Loons’ missed scoring opportunities of the evening. MacMath, who would have a fantastic night in net in his own right, would spoil a beautiful cross ball from Sang Bin to Oluwaseyi, with the Canadian missing what looked like the moment for the Loons in the 71st minute.

The next real shot at avoiding a shootout came in the 83rd minute with a maddening sequence that saw the fancy footwork of Kelvin Yeboah get him past the defensive line to attempt a dangerously close shot from the right side of the box. MacMath’s initial save would deflect to Bongi Hlongwane, who would be denied on the opposite side, then deflecting to a wide open Wil Trapp at the top of the box, who took a shot that would fly off into the home crowd. All drawing heart palpitations from the Loons faithful, but all being handled by RSL’s MacMath and company.

Ultimately, great goalkeeping and defensive grit would hold true past the 90 minutes, and a sudden death shootout would be the deciding sequence on a hard fought battle between two talented clubs. Yeboah would stutter step in to start the scoring, with his score being matched by RSL’s Arango. Trapp would make good next, with RSL’s Diogo Gonçalves following suit. At 2-2, the Loons’ anxiety would rise after Michael Boxall’s shot was stopped cold by MacMath, but as had been the trend, RSL’s Justen Glad would match by missing high on his chance to break the tie. Sang Bin would slip in a score past a diving MacMath, with Anderson Julio of RSL returning the scoring favor.

Oluwaseyi would do what he does, finding the net before RSL’s Emeka Eneli would return the favor on the fifth attempt. But, it would be defender Jefferson Díaz’s score that would finally decide this slugfest in Sandy, as RSL’s Braian Ojeda would be the one to blink first, skying RSL’s sixth attempt to give the Loons victory.

MNUFC now has a jump on the series, with a trip back home on tap for the boys to try and seal the series at Allianz Field on Saturday night.