FRISCO, Texas 鈥� Minnesota United鈥檚 two goals Sunday came from the most-likely and the most-surprising sources.
Forward Robin Lod set an MNUFC record for most career MLS regular-season goals in the first half and right back D.J. Taylor scored his first MLS goal in a 2-1 win with FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium.
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Minnesota (5-5-3) ended a four-game winless streak against one of the top teams in FC Dallas (6-3-4). With one-third of the season gone, the Loons were in ninth place and made a big stride to make up ground.
Taylor scored a stunner in the 55th minute when he snapped long-range volley off a recycled corner kick from Emanuel Reynoso. It was the Loons first goal from outside the 18-yard box this season.
It capped a great week for Taylor, a once-reserve player who contributed his first MLS assist in the 1-1 draw with L.A. Galaxy on Wednesday.
Paul Arriola gave Taylor competition for best goal of the game with his own long-range goal only four minutes later.
In the first half, Lod banged in a rebound goal off a Reynoso 25-yard free kick which goalkeeper Maarten Paes couldn鈥檛 catch. That鈥檚 two goals in the moments after a set piece鈥檚 initial intent breaks down.
Lod鈥檚 22nd MLS regular-season goal broke a four-way tie club-record tie for most goals with Christian Ramirez, Darwin Quintero and Kevin Molino.
MNUFC used the same starting XI in consecutive games for the first time this season. Before Sunday, the Loons had used 12 different starting lineups in the opening 12 games this season.
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Dallas striker Jesus Ferreira, the MLS leader with nine goals, did not start Sunday. He was not mentioned in the club鈥檚 player availability report and came off the bench with a half hour remaining Sunday.
Briefly
Center back Michael Boxall and midfielder Kervin Arriaga will both be suspended for Saturday鈥檚 game vs. New York City. The integral players reached yellow-card accumulation limits with first-half bookings against FC Dallas on Sunday. 鈥ackup goalkeeper Tyler Miller was injured during warmups, with Eric Dick taking his spot on the bench Sunday. The Loons play Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday; Miller stared both previous games for Minnesota in the national tournament this season. 鈥� MNUFC2 extended its unbeaten streak to six games against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on Saturday. The Loons scored two goals (Andrew Brown and Tommy Williamson), but gave up two own goals in regulation (Fred Emmings, Emmanuel Iwe) for a 2-2 tie. Emmings made two saves for the 3-1 tally in PKs.
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