Kei Kamara's penalty in the 16th minute helped Minnesota United FC to a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday evening at Allianz Field.
A potential penalty decision came up in the 12th minute of the match as Minnesota defender Chase Gasper was shown to have been stepped on by FC Cincy's Mathieu Deplagne. Video Review determined it was a penalty, and Kamara cooly slotted it past Przemyslaw Tyton for his 130th career goal to put the Loons ahead.
Neither keeper was particularly tested heavily as the match progressed after the Kamara goal, but FC Cincy came close in the 57th minute as Dayne St. Clair denied a point-blank header by Jurgen Locadia to keep Minnesota ahead on the scoreboard. Less than 15 minutes later, the Loons doubled their margin as a great pass from Emanuel Reynoso sent Kevin Molino off on a great run on the left side, with the Trinidadian finishing far post between Tyton's legs to make it 2-0.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Loons hope that the win against FC Cincy can help them hit their stride: they drew Real Salt Lake on Sunday and made it two clean sheets in a row with tonight's victory. Meanwhile, Cincinnati find themselves in the midst of yet another scoring funk as they have been held without a goal since Haris Medunajin's 85th-minute olimpico against the New York Red Bulls on September 19.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: FC Cincy had a chance to get back on terms right before the hour mark, but St. Clair — making his seventh straight start in place of the injured Tyler Miller — erased Locadia's header en route to a second straight clean sheet.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: St. Clair looked confident in goal, and despite Kamara's penalty standing as the eventual game-winner, his timely saves were key in this one.
Next Up
- MIN: Tuesday, October 6 at Nashville SC (8:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- CIN: Wednesday, October 7 at Philadelphia Union (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
