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  • Minnesota United Slump to a 2-2 Draw with the Rowdies

    Wes Burdine

    October 5, 2016
    News
    Minnesota United Slump to a 2-2 Draw with the Rowdies

    Minnesota United broke their four match losing streak but still slouched toward a late draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies as twice the Loons went up and twice they were pegged back. Even on points with the Rowdies, a win would have pushed Minnesota in the direction of the playoffs. A draw leaves them scratching for their NASL playoff future.

    On a stormy night, Tampa Bay came out on the front foot and were almost rewarded for the effort. Joe Cole found a cleared ball and put a hard shot to the near post that Sammy Ndjock parried in the 12th minute.

    Not long after, though, the Loons started to gain traction. For the next ten minutes they pushed forward and eventually broke through in the 18th minute through Christian Ramirez’s 16th goal of the season. Jeb[!] Brovsky sent in a long-distance shot that Matt Pickens pushed onto the crossbar. The ball bounced off the crossbar and back into play as the Rowdies defense fell asleep and let Ramirez run on to the ball. The Loons striker coolly finished to make it 0-1 for the visitors.

    ⚠️ No nets were harmed in the making of this goal… ⚠️#TBRvMNU | 0-1 | @Chris_Ramirez17 pic.twitter.com/2EnVG2INYP

    — Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) October 6, 2016

    After the goal, the Loons looked invigorated and were able to string together passes. But for the third week in a row, Minnesota conceded a goal after going up. In the 31st minute, a poor clearance found Georgi Hristov who was all alone and able to finish all too easily. The first half fizzled to a close, even between the sides.

    31' – Rowdies GOAL! Hristov levels the match against @MNUFC with his 9th goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/R9EjF3LGMB

    — Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) October 6, 2016

    The Loons drew first blood in the second half with an early goal from J.C. Banks in the 51st minute. After a long series of passes, Kevin Venegas sent in a corner that was pushed high by Matt Pickens. Ramirez went up for a header but looked to take an elbow to the face that the referee missed. The ball fell to Banksy, who held off three defenders before turning and sending the ball into the far post, nutmegging a defender on the way.

    Three defenders? No problem… #TBRvMNU | 1-2 | @jcbanks11 pic.twitter.com/dY195atZpM

    — Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) October 6, 2016

    Stefano Pinho almost added a third in the 57th minute with a curling shot from a poor clearance. The game seemed to slow to a crawl until, in the 70th minute, Jamie Watson (who came in for Danny Cruz) was sent clear by a lazer-guided pass from Ibson. Pickens did well to save Watson’s shot. Again, late in the match Watson raced toward goal and elected to pass rather than shoot.

    Minnesota stifled the match by holding on to possession until five minutes of stoppage time flashed from the fourth referee’s board. At that point, the game grew frenetic and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Keith Savage put a deflected cross into the back of the net.

    It was another heartbreak in a season of heartbreaks. The draw did not doom the Loons’ playoff chances, but it allowed the light to grow slowly dimmer. Minnesota heads to Puerto Rico next for Saturday’s matchup against Puerto Rico FC.

    Minnesota United FC, NASL, Tampa Bay Rowdies
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    17 responses to “Minnesota United Slump to a 2-2 Draw with the Rowdies”

    1. Michael Clark Avatar
      Michael Clark
      October 6, 2016

      Due to the minimal amount of comments the last few weeks on these articles, United fans are either dealing with this in a #1) passive-aggressive way by ignoring things or #2) pretending to be more interested in the Vikings until next year.

      Me, I wake up in the middle of the night wondering — has Sammy taken a step back? Is Kallman losing his tenacity? Is it just a run of bad luck? Has our defense lost its shape and stoutness?

      I need sleep, people.

      Reply
      1. Wes Avatar
        Wes
        October 6, 2016

        I thought Kallman had a great match. I need to go back and watch that last 10 minutes again, but you could feel the nerves spread through the team. when stoppage time came, they started to panic.

        Reply
        1. Michael Clark Avatar
          Michael Clark
          October 6, 2016

          Totally. When five minutes was announced for stoppage, my entire family panicked. I’m not kidding. I told them, if the Rowdies don’t score, we’ll give an own goal. Just after I said it, the Rowdies scored. Flabbergasted! It is a little weird that everyone had that vibe. There is something wrong. I just need folks to put a finger on it for me.

          Reply
          1. Wes Avatar
            Wes
            October 7, 2016

            so you’re to blame. Good to know we have a scapegoat!

            Reply
            1. Michael Clark Avatar
              Michael Clark
              October 7, 2016

              Trust me, I’m going to be a clam during the next game. If we put up a clean sheet, I’m not saying a word during ANY games. Good thing I don’t sit with the Dark Clouds.

      2. Phil Avatar
        Phil
        October 6, 2016

        I thought Kallman was playing great. Obviously a poor ending but he was one of the few playing with urgency.

        Reply
      3. Dave DuJour Avatar
        Dave DuJour
        October 6, 2016

        Who are the Vikings? Didn’t they used to live in Sweden?

        Reply
    2. BJ Avatar
      BJ
      October 6, 2016

      The first half is all I got to watch. JC looked completely out of touch with the rest of the team. The rest of the team looked really good after a ruff first 12.

      Reply
    3. Chris Nietupski Avatar
      Chris Nietupski
      October 6, 2016

      Maybe my brain was purposely misremembering and/or blocking out the past, or just so desperate for something to cling to that for multiple periods of this game I thought this was the best we’d looked all season on the road. I even convinced myself that the passion which was seemed to be so sorely lacking for the last month was back.

      And then that goal came and I felt disgusted and used.

      I told myself before kickoff that this was it if I didn’t see a spirited bunch out there. And, despite the late goal, I’ll begrudgingly admit that they did just enough to keep me engaged for another week or two.

      Reply
    4. eddieoh Avatar
      eddieoh
      October 6, 2016

      I thought they played pretty well… I kept thinking about that article that someone had posted somewhere (yesterday?), about how much (non-charter, non-luxury) travel affects players, and also I think it was really hot there in Tampa…
      But yes, a win would’ve been nice!

      Reply
      1. Dave DuJour Avatar
        Dave DuJour
        October 6, 2016

        I believe that was a link on DuNord’s blog yesterday. The Galaxy aren’t supposed to have team-wear while in the airport anymore.

        Reply
      2. sehanson14147 Avatar
        sehanson14147
        October 6, 2016

        The first article came from the LA Times and I saw Jason Davis had a write-up about it yesterday as well.

        Reply
    5. Phil Avatar
      Phil
      October 6, 2016

      ‘Another heartbreak in a season of heartbreaks…’
      Amen.

      Reply
    6. sehanson14147 Avatar
      sehanson14147
      October 6, 2016

      They came out slow, weren’t maintaining possession, lapses in defensive marking. Was really hoping to see more out of a desperate team.

      Reply
    7. PaleVermilion Avatar
      PaleVermilion
      October 6, 2016

      This team just has no idea how to win anymore. What was with the stupid chip shot at the goalie by Justin Davis? Drill that ball in there! Watson made a similar play where there was nobody between him and the goalie and instead he tried to pass it to the middle. It’s so discouraging to watch.

      Reply
      1. Charles Spolyar Avatar
        Charles Spolyar
        October 7, 2016

        It seems to me that a lot of the time the guys are looking to assist on a goal, and not wanting to take the shots themselves.

        Reply
    8. Chris RB Avatar
      Chris RB
      October 7, 2016

      If I delete the game off my DVR and don’t watch it, it never happened, right?

      Reply

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