It wasn't easy but Minnesota United pulled off one of the most unbelievable victories in the history of the tournament as goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair set a franchise and Leagues Cup record with 16 saves, to beat Club Necaxa 1-0 in a West 6 match at Allianz Field.
We knew it was going to be entertaining and this game did not disappoint, as we saw drama from the get go. While Necaxa was trying to settle in on the pitch, Bongokuhle Hlongwane served a back heel ball to Loïc Ekoue Mesanvi while entering the box and as he was trying to shot, Fernando Arce Jr. tackled him from behind and after VAR confirmation, a penalty was given.
Robin Lod once again appeared to score from 12 yards away at the 10th minute and give the home team the lead. From that point on, it was a complicated night at the back end for The Loons but they managed to survive thanks to the performance by their goalkeeper, as they started to play with a man down in the same first half.
At the 20th minute, Ricardo Monreal was sprinting with the ball on the left side of the field and just before he entered the box Hugo Bacharach tackled him from behind and the referee did not hesitate to show him the red card; Minnesota United had to play the rest of the game with 10 men.
After that, head coach Eric Ramsay had to change his formation to a 5-3-1 while making substitutions and the Rayos started their pressure towards the end of the first 45 minutes. Everyone expected that Necaxa would be attacking from all over the pitch, but it was Dayne St. Clair’s night.
The Canadian goalkeeper stopped every shot, every head ball, long range attempts, you name it. While the coaching staff on the home bench was concerned because it felt like it was a matter of time for Club Necaxa to tie the game, the crowd was loving every play from St. Clair.
The Mexican team came very close to leveling the score at the 84th minute when Diber Cambindo delivered a rocket that hit the right post, but the ball bounced far from danger. The minutes passed at the end of regulation it was Minnesota United celebrating their first win in the 2024 Leagues Cup.
“I didn’t want to jinx it by speaking too much but the way he spoke at halftime (in the locker room), he’s a good leader, very vocal, engaged, proactive and that’s how he does things on the pitch,” Eric Ramsay said about his goalkeeper. “He gives the team a lot of energy in the way he speaks, which is a very big thing,” something that was injected to the rest of the team as well in order to prevail.
For the visiting side, head coach Eduardo Fentanes was not happy after what he saw on the field. “Today I wasn't going in, their goalkeeper was in an impressive level and unfortunately we are leaving with the defeat in the middle of a game in which we have undoubtedly generated more goal chances since I joined this team,” he said frustrated after the game. “(We have) the normal frustration of doing everything, of giving everything, of doing everything on our part and not having obtained any reward for it.”
After this result. The Loons will await the game between Seattle and Necaxa to know what the future holds for them, but they are currently in second place in West 6 with three points just as the Sounders. The Rayos have to beat Seattle to have a chance to advance to the second round.
