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MLS Minnesota United FC

Stoppage-Time Goal Sinks Minnesota in 3-2 Loss to Colorado Rapids

June 24, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - A back-and-forth match granted Minnesota United a pair of one-goal leads but it was unable to hold on and, after going down to 10 men late, conceded a stoppage-time match-winner to Colorado Rapids in a 3-2 setback on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

After a promising start, the disappointing finish left Head Coach Adrian Heath and his side with a bitter taste in their mouths.

"It's a tough one to take tonight because at no stage did I think we were going to lose the game," said Heath. "Overall, I am disappointed with the result because I don't think we deserved to take nothing from the game."

Minnesota went on the offensive early with a clear M.O.: get the ball to midfielder Darwin Quintero and let him create. The Loons tested Colorado's back line and goalkeeper Tim Howard with six shots on target in the first half, which were conjured from long, lofted through balls and Quintero running at defenders with pace. After close calls for Quintero, midfielder Miguel Ibarra and forward Christian Ramirez, MNUFC's heavy pressure finally paid off in the 20th minute.

On the play, midfielder Rasmus Schuller perfectly picked out Quintero with a long ball and Quintero's deft first touch put him behind the defender and through on goal. The Colombian's shot was stopped by Howard on the goal line, but was followed up by Ibarra who ran in and smashed the loose ball into the back of the net to give his side a 1-0 lead. The goal was Ibarra's third of the season.

"We kept a lot of possession and switched the play a lot," Heath said. "We had a lot of possession and I don't think we did enough with it at times. That would be my only disappointment considering we had so much of the ball in the first half. I don't think we had enough end products out of the game."

The Rapids picked up after conceding the opening goal and utilized six corner-kick opportunities to generate a few dangerous moments. But the Loons' back line buckled down and stood strong to see the one-goal lead through to halftime. Minnesota's defenders allowed just one shot to reach the goal in the first half - a 45th-minute effort from former teammate Sam Nicholson that was easily handled by goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

But as soon as MNUFC blinked, Colorado capitalized. In the 50th minute, Minnesota left Colorado midfielder Edgar Castillo enough space to cut central at the top of the box and he took advantage with a booming shot into the top right corner. The leveling goal further encouraged the Rapids, who took control in the midfield and enjoyed a long spell of chances.

In the face of Colorado's momentum, Quintero and Ibarra teamed up again on a well-executed combination play to regain the lead. Quintero slid a ball to meet a perfectly timed Ibarra run in behind the defense and Ibarra dished to Ramirez in the six-yard box for an easy tap-in and the 2-1 advantage.

But the seesaw affair soon swung away from MNUFC. Shortly after coming on as a sub, Rapids midfielder Shkelzen Gashi cut the Loons open with a through ball for forward Joe Mason, who tied the match at two in the 74th minute. Minnesota's problems were compounded in the 77th minute, as Ibarra was shown a red card after a skirmish while trying to re-start play after Mason's goal.

"I was just trying to get the ball," Ibarra said. "There was shoving back and forth and unfortunately I got the worst of it. I feel bad because the team lost now. Now I just have to move forward."

Playing with 10 men, the Loons sat deep to try and escape with a point and were mere seconds away from doing so. Colorado racked up a 13-3 corners advantage and all of those chances finally paid off in the waning moments of the match. After winning a corner in the 97th minute, Rapids defender Tommy Smith rose up to meet the service and drove home the winning goal at the death.

"He attacked the ball and got across the top of our guy," Heath said. "You're disappointed because it is virtually the last kick of the game."

After more than a month away from home, Minnesota United returns to the friendly confines of TCF Bank Stadium on Friday, June 29 for Pride Night against FC Dallas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT. Pre-match coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North Plus, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

Lineups

Minnesota United FC Starting XI: GK Bobby Shuttleworth; D Tyrone Mears, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Alexi Gomez; M Rasmus Schuller, Collin Martin (Ibson 63'), Collen Warner; F Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero (Wyatt Omsberg 84'), Christian Ramirez (Mason Toye 81')

MIN Unused Subs: GK Alex Kapp; D Carter Manley; M Harrision Heath, Frantz Pangop

Colorado Rapids Starting XI: GK Tim Howard; D Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne; M Edgar Castillo, Jack Price, Marlon Hairston (Enzo Martinez 33'), Johan Blomberg (Shkelzen Gashi 69'), Sam Nicholson; F Dominique Badji, Jack McBean (Joe Mason 73')

COL Unused Subs: GK Zac MacMath; D Axel Sjoberg; M Micheal Ariza, Bismark Adjei-Boateng

Match Events

Goals

20' - Ibarra - MIN

50' - Castillo (Martinez) - COL

65' - Ramirez (Ibarra, Quintero) - MIN

74' - Mason (Gashi, Wilson) - COL

90'+7' - Smith (Gashi) - COL

Discipline

72' - Shuttleworth (YC) - MIN

77' - Ibarra (RC) - MI

77' - Mason (YC) - COL

MNUFC QUOTES SHEET

MNUFC HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the result at Colorado Rapids ...

"It's a tough one to take tonight because at no stage did I think we were going to lose the game. I never try to make excuses, but there are no stoppages after the six minutes and why we carried on playing I don't know. Six minutes were up when the ball was in the middle of the field, so that's a disappointment."

On Colorado's match-winning goal ...

"I think the guy just attacked the ball and got across the top of our guy. You're obviously disappointed because it's virtually the last kick of the game. So, I'm disappointed. I thought the game plan that we had worked very, very well. I thought we kept a lot of possession and switched the play a lot. I thought at times we were a bit over elaborate and I think we could have been a little bit more positive in the final third, certainly in the first half on the counterattacks. We had maybe three or four times one vs. one and we decided to pass it again. That was disappointing. But, overall just disappointed with the result because I don't think we deserved to take nothing from this game."

On momentum switching when Christian Ramirez scored ...

"Yeah, and you know we kept switching the play because of the way they play. We had a lot of possession and I don't think we did enough with it at times. That would be my only disappointment, considering we've had so much of the ball, certainly in the first half. I don't think we had enough end product out of the game."

On Miguel Ibarra's red card ...

"The fourth official said Miguel punched a guy in the head. We've seen it and I don't think he does. What follows after, on Miguel, is probably worse than what he got sent off for. I don't like criticizing the officials because people use it as an excuse, but some of the decisions today are a little bit baffling for me."

MNUFC MIDFIELDER MIGUEL IBARRA

On the scuffle that led to a red card ...

"I was just trying to get the ball. I think they told me that I tried to punch him. I had no intent of punching; I was just trying to get the ball. We were just shoving back and forth and unfortunately I got the worst of it. I feel bad because the team lost now, but now I just have to move forward."

On if he was surprised about the card ...

"Yeah, I was actually just expecting a yellow for both players. Once I saw the red I could not believe it and I just started walking. I looked at the replay already about 10 times. They said I threw a punch, but on the replay I never see me throw a punch."

On his opening goal in the 20th minute ...

"Yeah, we were just knocking on the door. We didn't finish our chances in the first half. We got one, but at the end of the game those chances come back and bite us."

?On his assist on Christian Ramirez's goal ...

"?Yeah, I mean. I saw the replay up on the screen and there was no way they would call it back. I saw Christian behind the ball, so I was just thinking there's no way they call this one back."

On giving up the 2-1 lead in the second half ...

"It's really tough. We had the lead and we were feeling good about it. But then they tie the game, I get ejected, and they score in the last minute."

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