Minnesota United remains a broken record this season.
ADVERTISEMENT
They can鈥檛 win nearly enough at Allianz Field 鈥� often dropping points from winning positions in the process 鈥� and are now closer to breaking their record of a Western Conference-best four straight MLS Cup Playoff appearances.
Teemu Pukki put MNUFC up 1-0 in the 56th minute with a shot tucked in the near post and past San Jose goalkeeper Daniel. But literally no lead is safe with MNUFC, especially in St. Paul, and San Jose equalized in the 82nd minute with Paul Marie鈥檚 header at the back post coming off an assist from Cristian Espinoza.
Boos rained down as MNUFC settled for a 1-1 draw with Earthquakes on an unseasonably steamy Saturday night.
Manager Adrian Heath had figured the Loons needed two wins in their final four games to make the playoffs. Now they have three to achieve it and will be underdogs at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday and at Sporting Kansas City on Decision Day on Oct. 21. They host LA Galaxy in the middle next Saturday.
ADVERTISEMENT
鈥淯ntil it鈥檚 mathematically impossible for us,鈥� Heath said of if Saturday was a must-win match. 鈥淚f we would have won tonight and then gone to LAFC and got a result, we are still in with a shout. That is still available for us.鈥�
Yet the Loons (9-10-12, 38 points) failed to make up ground on clubs such as San Jose (10-11-11, 42 points).
鈥淵ou ultimately, when you鈥檙e the coach, you take the responsibility for the results,鈥� Heath said. 鈥淚 always have done and always will do.鈥�
Pukki now has five goals across his previous six MLS matches, and he should have had a second Saturday from point-blank range, but his shot went straight to Daniel. Pukki put his head in his hands in disbelief that he didn鈥檛 make more of the chance and San Jose was able to stay in the game.
ADVERTISEMENT
The importance of the game was apparent with Emanuel Reynoso returning to the starting XI after missing the St. Louis game with a thigh injury. He didn鈥檛 train until Friday and Heath has expressed worry that Reynoso might aggravate the injury and be missed in more games down the final stretch.
Reynoso provided a few of the Loons' best chances in the first half and subbed out without apparent issue in the 75th minute, which appears to bode well for him playing Wednesday in southern California.
Heath also reinserted left back Ethan Bristow back into the starting XI after he served a one-game suspension for a red card in the 4-3 loss to L.A. Galaxy on Sept. 20. Bristow has had damaging defensive play at left back throughout his first season in MLS, and he faced a challenge against San Jose right winger Cristian Espinoza.
ADVERTISEMENT
On the equalizer, Espinoza dribbled past Franco Fragapane and sent in the assist in front of Bristow on the left flank. Bristow did not step to challenge Espinoza with enough urgency. Then Marie got in front of Bongi Hlongwane at the back post for the equalizer.
鈥淚f a guy gets beat, are you there to back him up?鈥� captain Wil Trapp asked. 鈥淎re you there to cover? I think it starts on plays like that. Then it kind of spirals. The next guy is a little bit late and then the dominoes fall.鈥�
Does Heath need to see more from Bristow on the goal?
鈥淓spinoza can cross the ball against a lot of players,鈥� Heath responded. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a very good player.鈥�
ADVERTISEMENT
______________________________________________________
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.
The Trust Project
