Minnesota United scored two first-half goals and that held up in a 2-1 victory over New York City on Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC were more aggressive in the second half and Keaton Parks’ scored in the 89th minute to make it a closer finish.
But unlike the Kansas City and L.A. Galaxy draws, the Loons (4-1-2, 14 points) didn’t surrender this lead against New York (2-3-2, 8 points).
Here are three takeaways:
A New York minute
Tani Oluwaseyi’s goal was registered 59 seconds into the match — only eight seconds later than the club record for fastest goal.
Robin Lod’s mark still that holds. The Finn found the back of the net 51 seconds into a 2-0 win over Houston in September 2021.
Oluwaseyi now has five goals in his last three MLS matches.
Set piece success
The Loons have scored 11 goals this season, with five coming on set plays. Wil Trapp provided the latest.
On a short free kick from Joaquin Pereyra, Trapp sent in a low shot from outside the 18-yard box. It took a deflection and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese in the 29th minute.
Trapp is not known for accurate shots from distance, but he had three on target from long range on Sunday.
PK blunder
United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair keeps inducing — or benefitting from — opponent misses from the penalty spot. It was a major theme in Minnesota’s sweep of Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup Playoffs last fall. And Alonso Martinez kept the theme alive when he put a PK off the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
Martinez has shot to the goalkeeper’s right in recent PKs and that is where St. Clair dove, but it wasn’t on target.
Before the attempt, St. Clair talked to Martinez and endured a smile from Martinez. That mind game might have helped St. Clair.
Another factor might have been the few-minute delay while VAR reviewed whether Michael Boxall’s action was worthy of a PK.
New York didn’t register a shot on target until the 77th minute.
Three tidbits
Boxall was reinserted into the starting XI, with Morris Duggan dropping to the bench. … With Kelvin Yeboah’s goal production, Ghana might come calling for him to join the men’s national team. … Former Loons midfielder and sideline reporter Jamie Watson called Sunday’s match on Apple TV.
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- Loons’ Dayne St. Clair relives playoff shootouts vs. Salt Lake
- Loons let off, giving up three-goal lead in draw at Kansas City
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