Minnesota United’s struggling offense hit a new low in its first game back from the FIFA World Cup break on Wednesday.
Against Sporting Kansas City — which allowed a Western Conference-worst 39 goals in 15 matches — MNUFC managed only a late goal in a 2-1 loss at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Last-place Sporting allowed the Loons more chances in the final minutes, but Minnesota couldn’t capitalize. United, which has focused on creating more scoring opportunities over the last month, now has only 19 goals in 16 matches.
“When it’s not going your way is when you have to have stability emotionally,” head coach Cameron Knowles said. “We’ve talked to the guys a lot about that, and making sure we are collective and together and trying to create and stay in the game. We get one (goal) back, and again we had the chances to equalize.”
MNUFC (6-6-4, 22 points) is now winless in five consecutive matches since May, with first-place Vancouver coming to Allianz Field on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 in the 74th minute, Joaquin Pereyra chipped a short free kick to the front post and Devin Padelford headed it home. It was the Maplewood native’s first goal of the season.
Minnesota’s best chance of the first half came in the 15th minute. Owen Gene and Pereyra combined in the final third, but Kelvin Yeboah’s shot went off the left post. Morris Duggan’s long-range follow-up was saved by Stefan Cleveland.
Knowles said the play to set up Yeboah was an example of the work they have done over the last few weeks to create scoring chances, using space wide and arriving with numbers in the box.
“Again, we have the chances,” he said. “We have the shots in the box and we have chances inside the box and we have the touches inside the opponent’s box. We just don’t have that final moment that puts the ball in the back of the net.”
Kansas City winger Capita Capemba, one of the fastest players in MLS, outraced Padelford to get space to send a cross into the box in the 28th minute. Dejan Joveljic’s near-post run got in front of Michael Boxall and he finished past Drake Callender for a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, the Loons’ defense and midfield were out of sorts, and Manu Garcia took advantage with a goal in the 55th minute. That was enough for a team Knowles described as “absolutely desperate.”
Source: TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
