Minnesota United Wins Over Vancouver Whitecaps

Reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute, Minnesota United kept pushing and caught Vancouver on the counter 10 minutes later for a game-winner at TCF Bank Stadium.

A little over a month prior, it was a shorthanded Atlanta United side that sat deep in defense of a one-goal lead and frustrated the Loons at home.

And I thought the players, that every single one of them put themselves on the line so many times with the crosses that were coming in the box,” Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath said.

The Whitecaps outshot the Loons 8-2 in the first half, putting five of their efforts on target.

In what would prove a theme on the afternoon, Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth kept his side in the contest.

Rookie forward Mason Toye responded to being tangled up in front of goal with the Whitecaps’ Kendall Watson by throwing an elbow into the center back’s midsection.

With both Christian Ramirez and Abu Danladi absent from Minnesota’s 18-man roster, Heath elected not to make any immediate substitutions, and pushed attacking midfielder Darwin Qunitero forward.

A nice reaction save from Stefan Marinovic denied Ibarra’s initial shot, but the right winger followed his own effort and poked home the rebound to give the hosts the lead.

As Vancouver turns its attention to Friday’s game against Houston, Minnesota finds itself in a potentially tricky spot ahead of its midweek game at Los Angeles FC.

With Toye more than likely to be suspended against LAFC, Minnesota may be forced to make due on the road without a true forward in its lineup.