Minnesota-united-june-1.png?w=635″ class=”attachment-large size-large wp-post-image” alt=”Sporting Kansas City’s Johnny Russell dribbles through traffic against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 1, 2024.” decoding=”async” sizes=”(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px”>
Sporting Kansas City’s Johnny Russell dribbles through traffic against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 1, 2024.
STREET. PAUL, Minn. — Two goal contributions from Tani Oluwaseyi led to a 3-1 Minnesota United victory over Sporting Kansas City for the Double Blues’ seventh straight MLS loss and 10th consecutive winless game in MLS.
SKC sits in last place in the Western Conference with a 2-9-5 record and nine points out of a playoff spot.
Oluwaseyi sent a header into the back of the net to score the first goal of the game in the 33rd minute following a cross from Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Oluwaseyi returned the favor by beating SKC center back Dany Rosero and sending a cross into the box to Robin Lod, who scored Minnesota’s second goal of the game in the 67th minute.
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In the 83rd minute, a shot from inside the box was attempted by Khiry Shelton, who replaced left back Jake Davis just eight minutes earlier. Shelton’s attempted clearance fell to the feet of Minnesota CB Kervin Arriaga on the right side of the box, who sent the ball to goalkeeper Tim Melia from a difficult angle for the dagger.
Veteran forward Johnny Russell came on at half-time and added a consolation goal in the 86th minute, his second goal of the year.
SKC’s usual starting first line of Russell, Dániel Sallói and Alan Pulido substituted in the match during the second half. Instead, Alenis Vargas (out in the 62nd minute), Willy Agada and Marinos Tzionis (off Russell) started in their places.
After injuries and suspension caused Shelton to start at right back and Davis to start in midfield against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, Davis returned to his starting RB role. Memo Rodríguez started alongside Nemanja Radoja and Felipe Hernández in midfield after missing Wednesday due to yellow card suspension.
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Minnesota outshot Sporting 13-12 and SKC only had one shot on goal compared to Minnesota’s six.
“Apart from the three goals, there were a lot of good things,” said Sporting coach Peter Vermes. “I think the guys that started the game did really well, to be honest with you.
“I think it’s a situation in which we lose the ball very easily and then we don’t attack in the area, the first goal. I think the boys made a great effort. I think if you look at the guys that came in, you know, with that kind of pursuit of trying to get a goal to get back in the game. I’m not sure what happened to Willy (possible foul in the area), I didn’t see it. We are much more direct, we are much more animated, we are putting pressure on them. And I think that’s the kind of effort we have to have for the 90 (minutes) and that relentlessness to get to the goal. But we still have to eliminate the silly goals we give.”
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Vermes responded to a question about conversations with owners about job security with: “You can ask them that.”
A despondent Hernandez hopes the team will find a solution when they return home to host the 10th-place Seattle Sounders on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
“I mean, we’re trying to do everything we can, but right now it’s just not working,” he said after the game. “We’re going to keep trying to do the right thing and try to change this because right now it’s not working.”
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