Minnesota United ends six-game losing streak with 1-1 draw at Houston in MLS

Minnesota United snapped their six-game losing streak Saturday night in Houston, extending their winless streak to eight games.

The Loons managed to tie the game 1-1 thanks to an assist from All-Star Robin Lod who ended a scoreless game in the 70th minute. Dynamo forward Carlos Ferreira scored the equalizer 12 minutes later.

Ferreira finished off a corner with a powerful left-footed strike that bounced back to him just outside the box – just three minutes after Houston had an equaliser ruled offside.

The Loons have yet to win since June 1 against Sporting Kansas City.

Dynamo have remained unbeaten in five home games, including three draws, and have recorded four draws in their last six home games.

Lod’s 70th-minute goal gave the Loons a brief 1-0 lead in a game delayed by severe weather in a city ravaged by Hurricane Beryl last week.

Summary: Minnesota United 1, Houston 1

The Loons have seven regular players absent due to international duty or injury, although reserves Carlos Harvey and Alejandro Bran have returned from the Copa América to play starting roles.

The Loons are, however, without starters Dayne St. Clair and Tani Oluwaseyi, both of whom remain with the Canadian national team. Both players made their first starts of the tournament Saturday in the third-place match against Uruguay, which Canada lost 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 tie. Oluwaseyi played 67 minutes before being replaced.

St. Clair and Oluwaseyi are both expected to return before Wednesday’s home game against D.C. United.

With backup goalie Clint Irwin out due to injury, second-team goalie Alec Smir started his third straight game on Saturday.

Defensive midfielder Wil Trapp (leg), DJ Taylor (leg), Moses Nyeman (ankle) and rookie Hugo Bacharach (knee) are also injured.

Due to Taylor’s absence, Loons coach Eric Ramsay moved forward Sang Bin Jeong to the right side of the backline alongside the three-man backline of Harvey-Michael Boxall-Miguel Tapias.

The match was delayed by about 45 minutes due to lightning. A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off due to flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Beryl. Nearly three million people were left without power in sweltering heat for days afterward.

The Loons had two chances to score in the first four minutes, including striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s close-range shot which was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark.

“We’re disappointed that we couldn’t go all the way and weren’t able to put together the little details that we needed to defend our box towards the end,” Ramsay said. “It’s bittersweet in that sense because I think it’s a very important point.”

The Star Tribune did not send the author of this article to the field. This article was written from a broadcast, interviews and other sources.