Minnesota United suffered another defeat on Saturday night, losing 3-0 to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park. This continued their run of six straight MLS games without a win and eight regular season games without a victory. The Loons’ poor form was reflected in their defensive and offensive play, with the team failing to make up for their shortcomings on either side of the field in the first half.
Sporting Kansas City, who were at the bottom of the table with two wins, seven losses, and three draws, had not won any of their first 10 games but won two consecutive games. The first goal came in the ninth minute from a corner kick, where MNUFC’s Kelvin Arriaga and Mickey Tapias failed to defend against Daniel Rocero. In the 22nd minute, Danny Saroj scored through the Loons’ three-man back line.
Sun Bin Jong had a chance to score a penalty from a tackle on Tim Melia, but his shot hit Melia directly and was easily saved, which squandered MNUFC a golden opportunity to score. Manager Adrian Heath had been using a new formation in recent games but reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation in the second half. With 25 minutes remaining, designated players Luis Amarilla and Mendel Garcia came on as substitutes, but Sporting Kansas City scored the final goal of the game, with Jonny Russell capitalizing on the absence of a midfielder to put Jadi Kinda on goal in the 84th minute.
In summary, Minnesota United has won only one out of their eight games in Kansas City since 2017. Elsewhere, MNUFC forward Tani Oruwasei, loaned from the team, recorded two goals and two assists as San Antonio FC crushed Charleston Battery 7-0. Additionally, MNUFC2 signed forward Cameron Lacey, 22, to a one-year MLS NEXT Pro contract.