Minnesota United edges NYCFC to preserve playoff hopes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Minnesota United may not make the MLS playoffs, but their 2-1 home win over New York City FC on Saturday night shows the team is not going down without a fight.

Minnesota (12-16-3, 36 points) kept its slim playoff hopes alive with yet another home win as they moved to 10-4-1 at home.

After Saturday's result, Minnesota still sits nine points out of the final playoff spot.

NYCFC (15-9-8, 53 points) already had locked up a playoff spot and elected to rest some players, including international star David Villa.

Leading 2-0, Minnesota was dealt a blow in the 76th minute when Collen Warner was given his second yellow card of the game, forcing the Loons to play with 10 men the rest of the contest.

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Rodney Wallace cut it to 2-1 for NYCFC two minutes into stoppage time when he ran into a loose ball right in front of the Minnesota goal and knocked it home.

Minnesota struck first 19 minutes into the game thanks to a wonderful set of passes.

Darwin Quintero controlled the ball in the NYCFC third of the field before slotting a pass to a breaking Miguel Ibarra down the right side. Ibarra pushed it forward, then cut a cross through the box to an open Angelo Rodriguez, who completed the play by heading it home.

About seven minutes later, Rodriguez made it 2-0 with a heads-up play. NYCFC defender Ben Sweat tried to pass the ball back to goalie Sean Johnson, but an alert Rodriguez intercepted the pass, pushed it around an onrushing Johnson and slipped it home for the second goal.

It was the second straight big first half for Minnesota. In its last start, the club took a 3-0 lead into the half against Portland before holding on for a 3-2 win.