This weeks' Flying Kiwis.
Decision day. Last round of the regular season. Minnesota United away to Los Angeles Galaxy with both teams right on the edge of the playoffs, knowing that a win and they’d be in but defeat, or even a draw depending on other results, could be fatal to their chances. All the Western Conference games kicked off at the same time so there’d be a lot of screen-glancing on each bench throughout.
You could tell it was a game heavy on the implications because it took a mere two minutes before Boxy’s CB partner Bakaye Dibassy got booked for getting a little exuberant in the challenge.
Not a lot else going on early doors though – Minny scrambling to keep the Galaxy from attacking at pace and otherwise the two sides cancelled each other out. Adrien Hunou did put the ball in the net for the Loons on 22’ with a mint finish running in behind but he was flagged offside. Except he didn’t agree with the call, wagging his finger all over the show, he really didn’t agree... and eventually the VAR suggested it may be worth a look. The ref rushed over and the goal was given. 1-0 to Minnesota United. Exactly what they needed.
As per, when Manny Reynoso was involved (he had a cheeky backheel that opened things up for the goal earlier in the move), the Loons were a danger. Granted Tyler Miller had to be at his best to turn a Kévin Cabral thunder volley wide of his post on 32’. Enormous save there because two minutes later Michael Boxall tried for his own acrobatic volley (mixed with some Steven Adams low post moves) at corner kick time and Robin Lod swooped in to finish in close. 2-0 to the Loons and that’s a Boxy assist.
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Unfortunately they conceded in stoppage time and only Miller kept it from being 2-2 before they could get back into the sheds and reassess things. Galaxy were playing for their season too, remember. The reassessing chats didn’t work either because LAG came out on top second half and a sharp finish from Chicharito on 51’ had things all even again. Results elsewhere meant that at this stage a draw was enough for Minnesota but all room for comfort was slipping away.
This match was nuts. Minnesota steadied things and retook the lead through an own goal on 62’... but the Galaxy responded in the 75th as Chicharito volleyed his second attempt under Miller’s reach for 3-3. Still scores elsewhere held in both these teams’ favour. LAFC trailled most of the way to Colorado in what ended as a 5-2 defeat, while Sporting KC had held Real Salt Lake scoreless to that point. An RSL goal would change everything but as it stood, counting down into the last ten minutes, Minnesota were where they needed to be and were busy trying to take the steam out of things. In doing so won they a penalty for handball... only Franco Frangapane hit the post so easy come, easy go.
Minny immediately subbed on a defender for a forward in response to the penalty miss, meanwhile Real Salt Lake scored a dramatic late winner in that game which caused some emotional carnage because it meant that the loser of this one was out. Minnesota with six mins of stoppage time to survive knowing an LA Galaxy goal would eliminate them. Cue some utterly nerve-shattering stuff. Miller with a couple more low saves to make, no margin for error. Time ticking down. Minnesota with a flat back five now. Time wasting substitution. Pump it long. And finally they got there, 3-3 the final score. Minnesota United are back in the playoffs.
And who are they playing when they get there? The Portland Timbers of course, the two kiwis in the MLS playoffs obviously were gonna have to play each other first round... at least there’s one guaranteed in the next round now.
