ST PAUL – Minnesota United FC and Dayne St. Clair hosted Colorado Rapids on Saturday night. It was a wild game between two teams coming off loses looking to get a result.
Dayne St. Clair Weathers Storm as Minnesota United Pull Away From Colorado Rapids 3-1
The Loons started brightly, putting the Burgundy Boys under pressure in the opening 15 minutes. Colorado had trouble getting the ball forward to relieve pressure. Drew Moor made his first start of 2022 with Danny Wilson unavailable. Once they got settled, Colorado started to create with Jonathan Lewis and Lucas Esteves forcing good saves out of St. Clair.
Things boiled over in the 36th minute. After three yellow cards to Colorado players in five minutes, Jack Price was given a straight red for a tackle from behind on Franco Fragapane. Chris Penso went to the monitor and changed the red to a yellow.
Minnesota had a good period of pressure after that, leading to the open goal in the 42nd minute. Bakaye Dibassy scored on an open header on a recycled corner.
The Loons appeared to be in complete control with a minute left in the first half. Mark-Anthony Kaye went direct. The ball got through two Minnesota players, falling to Diego Rubio for a tap in. The flag went up, ruling Rubio offside. VAR again got involved, eventually leading to the call being reversed. The half ended 1-1.
Colorado started the second half brightly with several chances. An hour in, Rubio cut inside and shot for the far post. St. Clair appeared to get a touch to it as it went off the post and out. Keegan Rosenberry and Andre Shinyashiki also had great looks at goal, but St. Clair was up to the task.
goin’ back to back 🇨🇦#MNUFC / @SaintC17 pic.twitter.com/jnGkFfD8J3
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) April 17, 2022
Robin Lod broke the game open in the 77th minute. Like Dibassy earlier, he found space in the box to recieve a cross from Hassani Dotson, scoring with a first time shot to the corner.
Two minutes later, substitute Abu Danladi made it 3-1. Lod set him up in transition with Colorado pushed forward. Danladi slotted the ball to the far corner to beat Yarbrough.
The match ended 3-1.
Lod’s gonna cut you down.
Robin gives us the 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/eyLnwZFNz3
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) April 17, 2022
Three Key Takeaways:
Another 3-1 loss: Colorado have lost a second straight road game by the score of 3-1. Like the loss to FC Dallas, they weren’t dominated. The Rapids had their moments but did not start or end well, like last week.
VAR present: VAR got two big calls correct in this game, both to the advantage of the visitors. Jack Price had a straight red card reduced to a yellow. Rubio was ruled onside on the only Rapids goal.
A match of moments: Both teams had chances. Both keepers made great saved. St. Clair was at his best when he was needed. Lod and Danladi finished. Rubio and Shinyashiki did not. This game was not a multigoal beatdown but a match of moments and fine margins.
