ST. PAUL -- Minnesota United鈥檚 winless form in the five weeks meant they had no margin for error in their Decision Day finale on Sunday at Allianz Field.
The Loons came out flying and left little doubt in a 2-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps to seal a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Minnesota locked in the sixth seed and will travel to No. 3 FC Dallas for a first-round match next week.
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MNUFC took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute, with Emanuel Reynoso鈥檚 gritty press and poke to Franco Fragapane, which started a counter attack. The Argentine took it himself, slotting a right-footed shot past Thomas Hasal.
After a six-game winless skid since late August, Loons manager Adrian Heath said on The CW at halftime that the team 鈥渓ooked more like our normal selves.鈥�
Jonathan Gonazalez scored his first MLS goal at a massive moment, when he finished a cross from Joseph Rosales in 2-0 in the 77th minute.
At the half, Minnesota moved from seventh to fifth in the Western Conference, with Nashville and Portland having dropped points through their respective opening 45 minutes.
Midfielder Robin Lod returned from a 2 1/2 game absence due to a calf injury; the Finn came back into central midfield with Wil Trapp, with Kervin Arriaga suspended for yellow-card accumulation.
Minnesota captain Wil Trapp spoke about the importance of the first goal given how Vancouver needed a win to knock MNUFC out of the Western Conference field. Minnesota improved to 12-4-4 this season when scoring the first goal.
With a one-goal lead and needing only a draw, Minnesota changed shape from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 with Gonzalaez coming in and Mender Garcia subbing out. Lod left in the 74th as Joseph Rosales entered into midfield.
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The subs created the insurance goal.
Coming into the season, Minnesota was one of seven clubs league-wide to make the playoffs in the last three seasons. That number shrunk this season, with the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders knocked out before Decision Day.
That number is now down to four league-wide, with Minnesota the only Western Conference team.
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Loons supporters unveiled a tifo for the club鈥檚 TV broadcasters Kyndra de St. Aubin and Callum Williams before Sunday鈥檚 game. That pair have been mainstays in the commentary booth since the move to MLS in 2017. With the league鈥檚 broadcast rights going to Apple TV in 2023, clubs will not have dedicated broadcasters going forward. 鈥�. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan took the bullhorn and spoke to United supporters during halftime of Sunday鈥檚 game. It was part of the Dark Clouds鈥檚 nearly $9,000 fundraiser for the Minnesota Indian Women鈥檚 Sexual Assault Coalition. 鈥� United announced attendance was 19,941, which is two more than the previous record 19,939 for the 2019 MLS Cup Playoff game.
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