Analysis: Minnesota United lets points get away late in draw with New York Red Bulls

Minnesota United has hardly trailed this season; when Emil Forsberg opened the scoring for New York on Saturday, 11 minutes into the game, it was just the fifth time the Loons had gone behind all year.

That Minnesota fought back to lead by a goal at halftime was a testament to Minnesota’s effort. It was the Loons’ first comeback of the season. But it also made it all the more frustrating when they gave away the lead in the 90th minute, on a goal from Eric Choupo-Mouting, and earned a 2-2 draw on the road.

“Bittersweet,” Kelvin Yeboah said to reporters via Zoom after the game. “Really bittersweet, because we really played well.”

Yeboah got the first of Minnesota’s two goals, in the 32nd minute — after a beautiful play from Minnesota playmaker Joaquín Pereyra. The Argentinian midfielder, receiving a pass in midfield, flicked it over a defender’s head, running around him in the meantime to pick up the ball on his other side. One pass later, Yeboah cut right and then shot back across his body to score.

After Yeboah scored four times in the first five games of the year, his season was slightly derailed by an ankle injury in midseason. This was his second goal in three games, though, and he said he’s feeling like he’s getting back into form. “I feel a lot sharper,” he said. “I’m feeling physically much, much better.”

Just before halftime, Anthony Markanich — who has become the team’s secret weapon on set pieces — put Minnesota in front. It was a classic Loons goal, from a Michael Boxall long throw, headed on by Jefferson Díaz to Markanich, who sniped the ball into the top corner.

Markanich also hit the crossbar with a header in the second half, making an unexpected — almost striker-like — run into the penalty area. “He’s got a real knack for the second phase of set plays,” manager Eric Ramsay said. “He’s desperate to score, he’s got that real willingness to go and attack a ball and the desperation to make it to the far post when we’re attacking on the right-hand side.”

It was Markanich’s fifth goal of the year, with three coming in the league and two in the U.S. Open Cup.

“Whilst it’s very raw, we’re very disappointed with the finish there,” Ramsay said. “But I know full well how I’ll feel about it tomorrow and perhaps in an hour or so’s time: I’ll feel it’s a really good point on the road.”

Leading at halftime, playing for the second time in four days and playing on the road, it was always a good bet that Minnesota was going to be focused on defense in the second half.

Given that the Loons didn’t have a shot on target in the second half — Markanich’s header off the crossbar was their best chance — that needle might have swung a bit too far in the defensive direction.

“We know full well we’re good at defending in the box,” Ramsay said. “Obviously, we’re fairly light, personnel-wise. It’s searing hot. It would be very difficult, I think, for us to be a team in the closing stages of a game like that, where we are absolutely dominant on the ball.

“Of course that would be my preference, don’t get me wrong. I would very much rather spend the final 20 minutes in their half, but that unfortunately isn’t a huge strength of ours at the moment.”

The manager, who did say no one would leave the game patting themselves on the back, thought the second-half struggle had less to do with defending and more with just not keeping the ball.

“We let ourselves down on the moments where we did turn the ball over too cheaply, and weren’t able to kind of attack with either more precision or more patience,” Ramsay said. “So I think it’s that side of the game that needs to improve, and it’s less of a defensive issue, for me.“

Earlier Saturday, Minnesota announced it had signed goalkeeper Wessel Speel to a first-team contract, with team options for 2026 and 2027. Speel was previously signed to a second-team contract but had played four games — two in the U.S. Open Cup and two in MLS — with the first team.

Speel, back in the starting lineup with contract in hand, lasted only 19 minutes. Choupo-Moting, trying to get around Speel in the penalty area, fell directly on top of the keeper, driving Speel’s shoulder and head into the ground. The rookie tried to continue after treatment to his shoulder but appeared to be in pain when lifting his arm.

Alec Smir, Minnesota’s backup keeper entering the season, came in and guided the Loons the rest of the way.

MATCH SUMMARY: Loons 2, Red Bulls 2

MLS standings

Ramsay didn’t have an update on Speel’s injury, to his right shoulder, but did say it was 50-50 whether the keeper could continue. And on a hot evening in New Jersey, it tied the manager’s hands a bit in the closing stages; he probably would have made one more sub, for Pereyra, but had already used all five of his allotted changes.

He also said that, should it have been needed because of another keeper injury, defender Devin Padelford would have been the emergency goalkeeper. “He’s a crazy athlete in a lot of senses, and certainly someone who would probably relish it,” Ramsay said.