Mauricio Gonzalez celebrates after scoring against Real Salt Lake | Credit: IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Mauricio Gonzalez scores in 93' as Minnesota United knots Real Salt Lake
Mauricio Gonzalez scored his first career MLS goal in the 93rd minute as Minnesota United rallied for a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn.
Gonzalez, a 21-year-old forward from Colombia who came on as a substitute for Anthony Markanich in the 77th minute, headed in a long curling centering pass by Joaquin Pereyra inside the far right post and past goaltender Rafael to salvage a point for the Loons (6-5-4, 22 points).
Zach Booth scored a goal for Real Salt Lake (8-4-2, 26 points), which had a two-match win streak snapped and fell to 1-3-2 on the road.
Minnesota United, playing without top goal-scorer Kelvin Yeboah (eight goals) who was benched after missing practice on Friday for what the team termed "an internal matter", appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Mamadou Dieng netted a right-footed shot from the middle of the box. However, the play was flagged for being offside.
Three minutes later, Zavier Gozo hit Booth with a crossing pass at the right edge of the box, and Booth then roofed a right-footed shot into the top-right corner over the outstretched hand of leaping Minnesota goalie Drake Callender for his first goal.
The 19-year-old Gozo picked up his fifth assist of the season.
Once again, Dieng appeared to score in first-half stoppage time with a header in the middle of the box, but once again the goal was overturned after a VAR review for being offside.
Minnesota defender Morris Duggan nearly tied it in the 80th minute, but his header from the middle of the box off a Pereyra crossing pass flew over the top of the crossbar.
Minnesota finished with an 11-8 edge in shot attempts and 56.1% to 43.9% advantage in possession.
Rafael was credited with one save in the contest, while Callender did not record a save.
Minnesota is now 2-0-4 in the last six match-ups with Real Salt Lake, but the draw did snap a two-game winning streak for the hosts.
--Field Level Media

