Sporting Kansas City 0, Minnesota United FC 3 | 2020 MLS Cup Playoff Game Recap

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Minnesota United FC enter their first Western conference final, shocking No.1-seeded Sporting Kansas City with a 3-0 road victory Thursday night in the Playoffs conference semi-final of the 2020 Audi Cup MLS.

Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso had three assists, twice preparing Kevin Molino for strikes in the first half before also whipping in a corner that Bakaye Dibassy brought home to cap a 12-minute blitz in the first 45 minutes . Dayne St. Clair made several key stops early, allowing the Loons to silence the Children’s Mercy Park crowd soon after.

Molino made it 1-0 in the 27th minute after being played by Reynoso, beating Sporting’s backline with combined play before calming goalkeeper Tim Melia.

The quality of Molino and Reynoso then resurfaced when Minnesota opened up a 2-0 lead in the 35th minute. The former Boca Juniors midfielder cut off a left-footed pass to the Trinidad and Tobago international, who flew home on a right-footed shot after following the pass over his shoulder and have pushed it inside the second post.

Just four minutes later, Dibassy directed a powerful home corner kick from Reynoso to seal the 3-0 victory, beating Winston Reid on the cross in Sporting’s zonal scoring scheme.

The sport was not without its chances, especially in the early stages. Johnny Russell chipped St. Clair in the second minute, only for the header of center-back Michael Boxall to clear the goal line. St. Clair also escaped a close-range header from Roberto Puncec in the 15th minute, keeping the ball a few inches to prevent Russell on a breakaway in the 14th minute.

Goals

  • 27 ‘- MIN – Kevin Molino | WATCH
  • 35 ‘- MIN – Kevin Molino | WATCH
  • 39 ‘- MIN – Bakaye Dibassy | WATCH

Three things

  • THE BIG PICTURE: Minnesota are in their fourth year as an MLS club and are now one game away from competing for the 2020 MLS Cup. The 2019 season included a first-round exit, but they have reloaded and overcome a long list. of injuries this season like no other. As for the Sporting, they had the pressure to be the No.1 seed and couldn’t deliver. Star forward Alan Pulido was not in good health after much anticipation, and one has to wonder how SKC could have gotten away with him.
  • TIME OF THE MATCH: Kevin Molino’s second goal was pure class. Whether it was the chipped pass over the summit or the fishing of a finish from Molino, it gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead and put them on cruise control.

  • MAN OF THE MATCH: Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso became the first player in MLS history to record multiple playoff games with three assists. He’s done it in back-to-back games, including Minnesota’s 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. Lay down even further and Reynoso has contributed 10 of Minnesota’s last 12 goals, a statistic that continues into the regular season.

next

  • SKC: End of the season
  • MIN: Monday, December 7 vs. Seattle Sounders (9:30 p.m. ET | FS1, FOX Deportes in the US; TSN, TVA Sports in Canada) | 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoff Western Conference Final



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