Minnesota United returns to action with incredible comeback win
Minnesota United showed no sign of ring-rust as they capped their return to Major League Soccer action with a remarkable comeback win deep into stoppage time.
Losing 1-0 in the 43rd minute to Sporting Kansas City in their first game of the MLS is Back Tournament, the Loons scored in the 92rd and 97th minutes to secure an unlikely victory.
United were aided by the 74th minute red card handed to Kansas goalkeeper Tim Melia for hauling down Loons forward Aaron Schoenfeld, who was on after starter Mason Toye picked up an injury.
A frantic stoppage time then saw Khiry Shelton – who had given Kansas the lead – put the ball into his own net during a scramble from a corner. Five minutes later, a slick move found Kevin Molino in the perfect position, finding the bottom left corner from the three points for United.
🚨 Kevin Molino wins it for @MNUFC at the death! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yzqpgahTfg
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 13, 2020
Speaking to MLS.com after the game, Loons manager Adrian Heath said: "Well, we’d come back into the game, that was why we got the red card.
"We were probably in the ascendancy at that moment, I thought we started to look dangerous on the break. We were obviously playing against 10 men. Playing against 10 men who have not played for a long, long time, obviously a little bit of desperation sets in.
"We started to push the extra man forward. I'm not going to sit here and say to everybody that we played well because that would be foolish, and I thought they were very good. But as I said before, you know the character of the players to keep going was terrific.”
United's next game in the MLS tournament comes on Friday against Real Salt Lake.
The tournament is being
Raised on the Isle of Man, Adam has 15 years experience as a reporter and editor at regional and national level in the U.K. and the U.S. He moved to Minnesota in 2014 and became a writer for Bring Me The News. He is now the co-owner and editor of Bring Me The News and Bring Me The Sports, mixing in some occasional sports writing with his other editorial duties. He lists his three great loves as his family, Liverpool F.C. and baked beans (the British kind).