Even though they managed to grapple back from a 2-nil deficit, Minnesota United felt disappointed to merely draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
Loon’s head coach Adrian Heath was as animated as he’s ever been postmatch after the 2-2 result went final. Heath was bordering on furious as he explained that he’s team simply didn’t want it bad enough to earn all 3 points. United’s boss specifically pointed to that fact that his offensive players wouldn’t make enough runs off the ball or force the ball into the opposing team’s penalty area.
United shot themselves in the foot early in the match, a trademark of the first few weeks of the season but something that has been more or less ironed out as of late, when an errant back pass put Bobby Suttleworth in the impossible position of either allowing a goal or taking down Whitecaps attacker Brek Shea.
Shuttleworth chose the latter and was forced to defend a penalty kick for the second consecutive week. Christian Techera slotted home and put the Canadian side up 1-0 in the 17th minute.
Just before halftime, Tony Tchani powered a header home to double the Whitecaps advantage. After the game Heath said he lost his voice at halftime. It worked.
The Loons continued their strong possession play and put a stranglehold on the game. Vancouver ultimately created little on the night as United owned the ball with 73 percent possession.
Two defenders would actually come to the rescue for the Loons as Francisco Calvo headed in a goal in the 50th minuted and Jerome Thiesson leveled the match in the 63rd.
The draw salvaged a point for United on the night and kept their home record of 5-3-1 still sparkling. Still, Heath viewed the match as two points lost.
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Jerome Thiesson says he didn’t plan his “Fly Like a Loon” celebration.
Christian Ramirez
