In the Vancouver Whitecaps’ final home game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Minnesota United came in a bit flat after their 2-2 draw against LAFC earlier in the week. But the Loons persevered after falling behind in the first half to first level the game before the break and then take a late lead on a Robin Lod goal in the 75th minute. And then at the death, a highly suspect penalty call against the visitors would allow the Whitecaps to draw level at 2-2, giving each team a point.

With an understanding that Minnesota United were coming into the game having pulled off a last minute draw at LAFC just three nights prior, the Vancouver Whitecaps began the game exerting defensive pressure on Minnesota far up the field. The high press caused the Loons trouble early as they struggled to get the ball into the Whitecaps’ half. While they didn’t come out flat, exactly, the home side beat the visitors to the ball consistently through the game’s opening minutes and made the most of the open spaces.

Once a primarily counterattacking team as MNUFC began its tenure in MLS without a true playmaker, Minnesota have since grown into a team more comfortable with the bulk of the ball. But faced with the Caps’ defensive pressure, they had to rediscover the direct approach. In the 13th minute, midfielder Emanuel Reynoso threaded a pass to midfielder Ethan Finlay but the first touch for Finlay was a bit too heavy. The first half also feature several offside calls against MNUFC — a bit of an anomaly for a usually disciplined team. 

In addition to the high press, Vancouver looked to pull Minnesota’s defense wide as wingers Cristian Dajome and Deiber Caicedo kept chalk on their feet throughout the first half. While fullback Romain Metanire still managed to range forward, the tactic did a good job keeping the less experienced DJ Taylor back and defending. When the Loons were able to get on the ball, however, they often rang up the better chances. In the 23rd minute, Minnesota got their first corner kick of the game and defender Brent Kallman rose up unmarked and struck a header with purpose that went wide left. 

In the 36th minute, however, the Whitecaps broke the game open. Getting out on the counterattack, the speedy Dajome slotted a left-footed strike past the outstretched arms of Tyler Miller to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Dajome was only just kept onside by Taylor, who dropped just a step instead of stepping up at the crucial moment.

It gave the Loons a chance to double down on the road chops they’ve showed off recently as it’s been evident that Minnesota has gotten more comfortable both on the road and playing from behind. Sure enough, in the 45th minute of the first half, Reynoso once again found Finlay on the run between two defenders and this time, the first touch was money. Finlay drilled the well-weighted ball with his left foot past goalkeeper Thomas Hasal to level the game just before the half.

Heath began the second half with a substitution, bringing on forward Adrien Hunou for midfielder Jacori Hayes and shifting the team’s look from a 4-3-3 to its more traditional 4-2-3-1 formation. The move seemed to settle the visitors as they moved the ball with more precision and managed to exert more pressure on the home side with the attack.

A litany of chances began to materialize for Minnesota as they built their possession up. In the 61st minute, a turnover led to a blistering Reynoso shot that went straight at Hasal for a routine save. In the 69th, Hunou whipped in a fierce header off a Reynoso free kick that struck the woodwork instead of the net on the right. Then, in the 75th minute, midfielder Wil Trapp cut off a pass and quickly charged up the field, finding midfielder Robin Lod on the right wing. With Hunou matching him stride for stride, the defense wasn’t sure where to commit, giving Lod the time to get the ball to his favored left foot for a strike that rippled the net and gave the visitors the lead late on.

In the 82nd minute Vancouver coach Marc Dos Santos sent on a platoon of subs in the hope of stealing a point from the game, and as it turned out, that’s exactly what they did. With the fourth official having called for three minutes of stoppage time, the game was all but over in the 93rd minute when an errant ball struck Finlay in the chest just outside of the MNUFC box. Finlay gave chase and Dajome contested him for the ball without actually getting a touch on the ball and then went down, leading to the referee calling for a penalty. The call would stand and Dajome stepped to the spot, delivering a strike to his left as Miller dove right to make it 2-2.

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota08.07.21 | MLS Week No. 16 | MLS Game No. 177:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North, CW Twin Cities, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)