Minnesota United, Quakes strike early in 1-1 draw

ByReuters ESPN logo
Sunday, September 3, 2023

Teemu Pukki scored for the second straight game and Cade Cowell answered with his first goal of the season as visiting Minnesota United earned a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

Dayne St. Clair finished with five saves for the Loons (9-8-9, 36 points) who extended their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3).

Daniel made six saves for the Earthquakes (9-9-9, 36 points) who ended a two-match losing streak while also improving to 7-2-5 at home.

Minnesota United took a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute on Pukki's third goal of the season. The Finnish international took a long crossing pass from Emanuel Reynoso and then broke down the right wing where he unloaded a right-footed shot from inside the box into the far left corner of the net.

San Jose tied it 1-1 in the 16th minute when midfielder Jackson Yueill passed the ball to Cowell near the top left corner of the box. Cowell then blasted a right-footed shot that changed direction off a United player and snuck inside the near post.

Reynoso and Pukki teamed up again for what appeared to be a go-ahead goal in the 60th minute that saw Pukki drill a shot from the right side of the box into the near top corner. But the goal came off the board after a VAR review ruled Reynoso had extended his arm for a hand ball violation while taking control of the ball.

St. Clair then made a highlight-reel save in the 66th minute to keep it even on a Jeremy Ebobisse header from the edge of the six-yard box, diving and batting the ball away at the goal line.

St. Clair also came up with another diving save on a Cowell right-footed shot in the 82nd minute. Daniel also had to make a pair of big saves down the stretch, one a diving stop on a Hassani Dotson left-footed attempt from the right side of the box in the 87th minute and another on a short Reynoso try from the right side of the six-yard box.

--Field Level Media