Loons let off, giving up three-goal lead in draw at Kansas City

In a quiet moment inside Allianz Field last year, Hassani Dotson lamented what once was.

The Minnesota United midfielder was reminded of the “Bangers Only” T-shirts the club made to support his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2019. His theme of smacking long-distance goals continued into 2020 but then dried up.

“I need to get score more,” Dotson told the Pioneer Press last July.

It took a bit longer, but Dotson produced another banger on Saturday, a 25-yard blast in a 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Dotson’s finish will be a MLS goal of the week candidate, but Minnesota (2-1-1) coughed up a three-goal lead to Sporting (0-3-1).

Here are three takeaways:

Defense slips

The Loons defense extended its shutout streak to 261 minutes into Saturday’s second half. Then United gave up three goals in 12 minutes.

Stout then sloppy.

A ball over the top was tapped in by Daniel Salloi in the 68th minute; Loons center back Morris Duggan’s own goal came in 72nd; Jefferson Diaz’s giveaway was capitalized by Dejan Joveljic in the 80th minute.

MNUFC’s shutout streak dated back to the season opener against Los Angeles FC on Feb. 22.

Lineup change, formation tweak

With leading scorer Kelvin Yeboah missing training sessions this week with a hip injury, Robin Lod started over Sang Bin Jeong up top as a forward in a 5-3-2.

Lod, a natural midfielder, dropped in possession into the middle of the park and combined with Bongi Hlongwane in the 31st minute. Lod got cut down just after the pass to Hlongwane, who then sent in a beautiful cross just in front of Sporting’s defense for Oluwaseui’s goal.

Oluwaseui has his first goal to go with one assist in the win over Montreal on March 1. He made it two goals with a tap-in during the first minute of the second half.

Yeboah and Jeong subbed in into the game in these second half.

One helpful point

MNUFC will have five players — Oluwaseyi, Lod, Dayne St. Clair, Michael Boxall and Carlos Harvey — away on international duty when L.A. Galaxy come to St. Paul next Saturday.

With the Loons down five starters next week, three points was going to feel like a cushion. One won’t feel as nice.

Jeong and Diaz subbed into the game in the 65th minute and larger roles are expected for them next week.

Three tidbits

New midfielder Owen Gene made his third appearances in the last three games, while fellow new mid Hoyeon Jung has yet to play. … MNUFC2 won its season opener in dramatic fashion, with a 96th minute goal from new defender Kisa Klingi. The 6-foot-1, 22-year-old burnin Kenya played four seasons at Cornell. … MNUFC backup forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith has been loaned to USL Championship side Detroit City.

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