Minnesota leave it late against DC United

DC United were handed their third defeat of the season, as Ben Olsen’s men fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Minnesota United on Saturday at the newly opened Allianz Field.

A late Angelo Rodriguez strike came as heartbreak for the side from the United States capital as the striker grabbed his fourth goal of the season.

Rodriguez has already matched his tally of four goals in the season from the previous campaign- which was his debut one ever since he arrived last July from Deportes Tolima for a fee of 1 million pounds.

Despite pressure from Donovan Pines, Rodriguez got a slight touch off Romain Metanire’s good cross from the right and that touch was enough to take the ball past DC United stopper Bill Hamid. Rodriguez was taken off after the goal.

More than Rodriguez’s goal, it was also Metanaire’s third assist of the season from his right-back spot and it just goes to show how crucial a signing the man from Madagascar has been, ever since he arrived from Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims before the season began. The defender had also played a full game against Paris Saint-Germain during his time at Reims earlier in the ongoing Ligue 1 season.

The game also helped Minnesota United carry on a good recent defensive run, as this was their second clean sheet this season. Before that, the Loons had let in 13 goals in their last six games. That included letting in four against Toronto and conceding thrice against NYCFC and La Galaxy too.

But this was the second time Minnesota have won a game having kept a clean sheet, as their previous game saw them hold LA Galaxy to a goalless draw. Carl Craig’s men have previously beaten San Jose 3-0 too.

But Minnesota stopper Vito Mannone was called upon for a save only once against DC United.

DC United would have thought they had taken the lead in the first half, but Mannone couldn’t Pines’ effort in what could possibly have been the defender’s first professional goal in his career. But the referee used to VAR to disallow the goal, as Frederic Brillant had fouled Mannone before allowing Pines to score.

Minnesota had two chances to take the lead too. As DC United stopper Hamid parried Miguel Ibarra’s shot in the 59th minute and later saw Ibarra’s firing effort get blocked by Pines, who was in the thick of the action.

Despite the result, DC United stayed top of the Eastern conference with 17 points on board, with Montreal Impact following them closely behind at second only on goal difference. Montreal had earlier picked up a 1-0 win over Chicago Fire.

Wayne Rooney’s men have two home games coming up, with the Washington side to play Columbus Crew followed by a game against Sporting Kansas on the 12th of May.

Minnesota too have a tricky set of fixtures coming up, with a home game against Seattle Sounders coming up followed by a tough trip to Chicago Fire on the 11th of May.