COLUMBUS, OHIO, USA — Minnesota United FC stormed from two goals down to claim a stunning 2-3 victory at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Saturday, a result that leaves Columbus Crew languishing in 12th place with just six points while the Loons consolidate sixth with 14. In front of 18,904 supporters, it was Kelvin Yeboah who broke Crew hearts with a brace either side of the hour mark, before Anthony Markanich delivered the knockout blow to complete one of the more dramatic reversals seen in Columbus this season.
Columbus had looked in complete control at the interval, their two-goal cushion built on individual quality and clinical finishing. Taha Habroune opened the scoring in the 31st minute, drilling a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner after Max Arfsten — who had already been cautioned in the 12th minute — turned provider with a precise delivery. The Crew were composed and purposeful in the first half, and their lead felt entirely deserved as the teams headed into the break.
The second half began with Columbus still in command, and Hugo Picard extended the advantage in the 56th minute with a composed right-footed finish from the left side of the six-yard box, guiding the ball into the top left corner. At 2-0, the home faithful inside ScottsMiracle-Gro Field had every reason to believe three points were heading their way. What followed, however, was a collapse of stunning speed and severity.
Minnesota's response was immediate and ferocious. Just three minutes after Picard's goal, Yeboah halved the deficit in the 59th minute, slotting a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner after Anthony Markanich supplied a clever headed pass. The Loons had a foothold, and the momentum shifted palpably. Seven minutes later, Yeboah completed his brace in the 66th minute, rising to meet Joaquín Pereyra's cross from a corner and powering a header into the centre of the goal. The equaliser sent the travelling contingent into raptures and left the Crew defence rattled.
With the game suddenly level and Columbus visibly shaken, Markanich moved from provider to finisher. In the 74th minute, Nectarios Triantis delivered a cross from the right, and Markanich met it with a precise header into the bottom left corner — his reward for a tireless, influential display that had shaped Minnesota's entire comeback. The Loons had turned a two-goal deficit into a lead in the space of 15 extraordinary minutes.
Columbus pushed desperately for an equaliser in a nervy final quarter, and Patrick Schulte had earlier kept his side in contention with four saves across the match, including denying Tomás Chancalay from a difficult angle on the left, with Markanich again the architect of the chance. Diego Rossi also struck the left post with a right-footed effort from outside the box, assisted by Steven Moreira, as the Crew searched frantically for a way back. But Minnesota's defence, reinforced by the introductions of Michael Boxall and Wil Trapp in the 75th minute, held firm. Rudy Camacho's yellow card in the 72nd minute summed up Columbus's growing frustration, while Jefferson Díaz was cautioned for Minnesota in the 84th minute as the visitors protected their lead.
The statistics told the story of a match that was far closer than the scoreline suggested for long stretches. Possession was split exactly 50%-50%, underlining just how evenly contested the contest was across 90 minutes. Yet Minnesota were ruthlessly clinical when it mattered, converting three of their opportunities while Columbus's four saves from Schulte ultimately proved insufficient to preserve what had been a commanding lead.
The scoreboard resets; the table does not. Columbus host New York City FC on May 10 needing an urgent response to arrest a slide that has yielded just one win in their last four league outings, while Minnesota welcome Austin FC on the same date looking to build on a result that underlines their top-six credentials.