Minnesota United Secures 3-0 Victory Over Sporting Kansas City
Minnesota United got back to winning ways Saturday night in their final home match of the regular season with a 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City. The Loons’ left back Anthony Markanich and midfielder Joaquin Pereyra led the charge in what became a comfortable coast to three points at Allianz Field. Minnesota United met Kansas City, losers of five straight, at the right moment as they needed to gain momentum and keep pace near the top of the Western Conference.
Minnesota United coach Eric Ramsay said he was pleased with how the team adapted to a new tactical setup. “Tonight was one of the better nights for the coaching staff,” Ramsay said. “And the players, of course. But we obviously scratch our heads as to how we compensate for no recognized number 9, and how we try to retain the principles that have put us in such a good position over the course of this year in the context of a change of system.” A different system, which saw Robin Lod and Pereyra leading the line, proved effective for the team.
A Strong Performance by the Loons
It was an unusually hot St. Paul night in early October, and a boisterous crowd set the stage for the penultimate game of the Loons’ MLS regular season. The Loons on the front foot from the start got a foul by Sporting defensive midfielder Nemanja Radoja, in a threatening area, which allowed the Loons to put service into the box. Pereyra’s initial cross was cleared back out to the right to him, and he took it on himself to put one on net that forced Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp to make an early save.
Once again maneuvering in the midfield, Pereyra was fouled by Memo Rodriguez and earned a free kick in a dangerous area. Pereyra swung in a beautiful ball that found Anthony Markanich, whose powerful header bounced off Pulskamp’s gloves, then off the frame of the goal and in to put the Loons up 1-0 in the 25th minute. Markanich said the power comes with just getting his head to the ball as he is aiming for control and precision. “It’s more like guiding than anything,” Markanich said. “I just try to hit it more like (into) the ground, especially when it’s wet, it will skip.”
A Historic Night for Markanich
The Loons’ left back netted his eighth goal of the season in the MLS. The goal by Markanich saw him tie Michel (FC Dallas, 2014) and Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards, 2006) for the second-most goals in a single regular season by a defender in MLS history. Ramsay said Markanich can find space after the initial action on set-pieces, leading to him finding the back of the net. “Anthony obviously has a very good knack for finding himself in the right space on the second phase of set plays, which is almost impossible to deal with for the opposition,” Ramsay said.
Sporting’s leading goal scorer, Dejan Joveljic (18 league goals), showed off his playmaking with a deft flick that pierced Minnesota United’s backline for Mason Toye. In on goal in the 43rd minute, Toye, unable to keep his nerve, smashed it off Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s body. It was a crucial save that kept Minnesota United ahead 1-0 at the break. The Loons held the majority of the possession (58%) through the first 20 minutes in a tweaked formation (4-4-2) from its last time out against Colorado.
A Convincing Win for the Loons
The Loons’ second goal came from a poor turnover by Kansas City near midfield in the 59th minute. Leaving Sporting susceptible to a swift counterattack started by Pereyra, who then punished Sporting GK John Pulskamp for a weak attempt to push Lod’s shot wide. Pereyra said he looks to get into the box more now when playing passes forward. “The reality is that I am working on that, and I am trying to get more comfortable making the pass and then getting into the box,” Pereyra said. “Today, I made the pass to (Lod), and then I kept on running, and the ball came to me.”
With their second goal, Minnesota United reached the 500-goal milestone as a club across all competitions. On the third goal, Nectarios Triantis attacked down the right, curled in a cross and Markanich met it in the middle of the box with another forceful header past a diving Pulskamp in the 63rd minute. Markanich said it was “pretty cool” to see his name continuing to ascend in the record books, with his ninth goal of the season. A strong defensive performance by Minnesota United gave St. Clair his 10th clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win.
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