AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA — Two teams with contrasting ambitions met at Q2 Stadium on Saturday, and what unfolded was a match that had everything — early drama, a halftime leveler, a late lead, and a gut-punch equalizer in the 90th minute. Austin FC looked destined for all three points before Kelvin Yeboah's towering header from a Devin Padelford cross restored parity and sealed a 2-2 draw that will sting the Verde and Black long into the week.
Austin drew first blood as early as the 7th minute, and it came from an unlikely source. Defender Brendan Hines-Ike rose powerfully at the back post to nod home from the centre of the box, guided to the bottom left corner after Facundo Torres delivered a precise cross from a corner routine. It was a commanding set-piece execution that gave the home side the perfect platform. Hines-Ike nearly doubled his tally in the 13th minute with another header from a similar position, but this time Drake Callender in the Minnesota goal stood firm, pushing the effort away to deny what would have been a commanding cushion.
Minnesota United refused to wilt. The Loons grew into the contest and found their equalizer just before the break, with Morris Duggan powering home a header of his own in the 40th minute. Joaquín Pereyra's corner delivery was whipped in with precision, and Duggan met it at close range, nodding firmly into the centre of the goal to send the sides in level at the interval. It was a timely response from the visitors, who had absorbed considerable pressure throughout the opening period.
The second half was a more open, end-to-end affair. Austin FC continued to press with purpose, enjoying the majority of possession at 57.4%, and Drake Callender was called into action repeatedly. The Minnesota goalkeeper denied Jon Gallagher with a sharp stop in the 58th minute, diving to his bottom left corner to claw away a right-footed effort from the right side of the box. Facundo Torres also tested Callender in the 53rd minute, only to be denied again in the bottom right corner. The Loons' goalkeeper was having a busy evening, and his four saves proved crucial in keeping his side in the contest.
Austin finally broke the deadlock for a second time in the 76th minute when Myrto Uzuni pounced from close range. Jon Gallagher's headed pass found the Albanian forward in a dangerous position, and Uzuni did not hesitate, finishing calmly into the centre of the goal to make it 2-1. Q2 Stadium erupted, and the home faithful sensed three points were within reach. Dani Pereira came close to adding a third in the 84th minute, only for Callender to produce yet another save, this time denying the midfielder's right-footed effort from the left side of the box.
Those missed opportunities proved costly. Deep into stoppage time, with Austin seemingly home and dry, Padelford whipped a cross into the box and Yeboah met it with a powerful header, directing the ball into the high centre of the goal to make it 2-2. The Q2 crowd fell silent. It was a devastating blow for a side that had controlled large portions of the match.
The statistics underlined Austin's dominance without reward. Austin FC were clinical, putting 6 of their 10 shots on target compared to Minnesota's 4 from 11 attempts. The Loons were also the more physical side, committing 16 fouls to Austin's 8, with both teams collecting one yellow card apiece. The corner count was similarly tight — Minnesota earning 8 to Austin's 7 — reflecting a match that ebbed and flowed without ever fully tilting in one direction.
Brad Stuver in the Austin goal was largely untroubled for long stretches but made two important saves when called upon, while Callender's four-save performance for Minnesota was the defining individual contribution of the night, keeping his side in a game they could easily have lost by a wider margin.
A point apiece, both teams now turn to their respective challenges — Austin FC host D.C. United on March 1, while Minnesota United travel to face FC Cincinnati on February 28.
