Nectarios Triantis scored the tying goal in the 65th minute and Dayne St. Clair made seven saves as the Minnesota United rallied for a 1-1 tie with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
Triantis scored for the second time in three games since joining Minnesota Aug. 22 after playing for Hibernian of the Scottish Premiership. His clutch goal helped the United (15-7-10, 55 points) end a two-game skid — its first losing streak of the season — while remaining in third in the Western Conference.
After St. Clair denied Rafael Navarro in the 62nd, Minnesota counterattacked and Triantis set up from slightly outside of the box. He waited for a pass from Joseph Rosales and stepped into a right-footed shot that flew into the top right corner over the leaping try of Colorado goalie Zack Steffen.
Rafael Santos scored on a free kick right before halftime for Colorado (11-14-7, 40 points), which is 1-3-1 in its past five and is eighth in the West. Santos scored by getting St. Clair to move to his left and finished the play by blasting a left-footed shot into the net after Navarro was fouled by Michael Boxall.
Steffen made two saves as Minnesota did not get a shot on target until the 57th minute.
Following the goal, St. Clair helped Minnesota get at least a point when he denied Paxten Aaronson in the 78th and Oliver Larraz in the 82nd.
After those saves, Minnesota missed two chances in the 83rd as Jefferson Diaz had a good look blocked by Larraz and Joaquin Pereyra’s shot hooked left. In the brief stoppage time, St. Clair made a point stop on Cole Bassett’s header.
Minnesota missed another chance in stoppage time when Bongokuhle Hlongwane sent a left-footed shot over the net.
Before Colorado scored on the free kick, St. Clair stopped Navarro in the 43rd and Aaronson in the 35th.
–Field Level Media
