It was a tough night at Allianz Field, as Minnesota United fell to visitors FC Dallas by a score of 1-2. While it was an improved defensive performance from the home side, a struggle to get numbers forward saw them fail to generate the chances they needed to come out on top in this one. Despite the disappointment, there were moments to build from, but the frustration was palpable after the Loons let this one slip late. 

The Loons came out with just a single change to the starting lineup, with Nectarios Triantis stepping into the double pivot next to Wil Trapp. Other than that, they rolled with what had been working for them across the last few games, with a very clear directive to defend a bit deeper and remain patient. That led to a Dallas heavy opening quarter hour, during which the visitors probed a very compact Black and Blue defense to no avail. 

The cautious start from the hosts made way for some real composure on the ball, allowing several moments of impressive possession and technical savviness. While they didn’t create as many clear-cut chances as they would have liked, the Loons were able to shift the opponent with some clever moves and precise passing. Without numbers forward and a less aggressive pressing approach, it was difficult to capitalize on the opportunities that did arise in the first half. Some heroics from Drake Callender kept things scoreless at the half, leaving his side with a chance to find the breakthrough.

The second 45 picked right up where the first left off, with Dallas probing early. Callender continued to come up big, but the visitors got onto the scoresheet in the 62nd minute after a mess in the box gave Dallas’ Kaick a chance to hammer home. Coach Knowles went to his bench immediately after, introducing fresh legs when they were needed most. 

Minutes later, a goal-line clearance from Morris Duggan brought some energy back into the building, and some formation shuffling saw the Loons grow into the game more and more. That progress paid dividends in the 73rd minute, when Kyle Duncan’s inch-perfect cross found Kelvin Yeboah at the back post. The Loons’ leading scorer saw his first attempt bounce off the post, only to get the ball right back to put in the leveller. 

With about 25 minutes to go, the Loons introduced more subs and continued to shift their shape, reverting to a 5-2-3, a 5-4-1, and eventually a 5-1-4 as time ticked away. Half chances came up here and there, but nothing substantive enough to constitute a real chance to go ahead. Dallas found a go-ahead in the 85th minute, taking advantage of space in the midfield to cut through the center of the pitch to slot Santiago Moreno through on goal. His strike sucked some of the life out of the game, and put the Black and Blue up against the wall. 

Despite more structural changes, the Loons couldn’t find that second leveler, falling yet again at home in frustrating fashion. Bright moments from Callender and Duncan weren’t enough to snatch any points from this one, as the hosts simply failed to find the cutting edge they’d mustered in their recent high-scoring matches, and couldn’t shake the lapses in the back that caught them against Portland. They’ll be hoping to get back to their best on their trip to St. Louis this weekend, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT this Saturday, September 12.