San Jose Earthquakes 1-4 Minnesota United
ORLANDO, FL–Minnesota United continued its mastery of San Jose since the start of the 2019 season with a comprehensive 4-1 win over the Earthquakes at the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando.
Minnesota went up 2-0 quickly with two goals in a span of 90 seconds. The first was when Jose Aja sent a looping heading toward Robin Lod at the back post. Lod scored from close range to put the Loons ahead. About ninety seconds later, Daniel Vega spilled an initial shot from Hassani Dotson which allowed Jacori Hayes to score his maiden goal for Minnesota.
San Jose had come back from two goals down to win earlier win the tournament and it looked like they were going to do the same when given a penalty in the 48th minute after VAR detected a handball in the area by Hayes. Magnus Eriksson converted the penalty and the Quakes had a lifeline.
That lifeline was cut short on 56 minutes later after Luis Amarilla beat Oswaldo Alanis one-on-one and then Vega near post to make it 3-1. Hairston would complete the scoring four minutes from time after a cross from Dotson.
After the match, Loons coach Adrian Heath continued the narrative that his team was not getting enough respect as others ignore the notion that the Loons are playing themselves into the tournament after a four-month layoff due to the pandemic.
“But people don’t want to listen to that,” Heath said. “They want to make their own narrative and describe what they think we are and not what I know we are. We’ll be better for tonight’s game as well. So it bodes well.”
Heath will now face his old team in Orlando City SC in the semifinals on Thursday (7pm CT, ESPN2).
San Jose Earthquakes
Minnesota United
