Anthony Markanich and Joaquin Pereyra scored late goals for the Minnesota United but they could only manage a 2-2 tie with Austin FC on Sunday night in Saint Paul, Minn.
Austin’s Christian Ramirez scored the tying goal in the 79th minute, while teammate Myrto Uzuni had the only first-half tally.
James Rodriguez assisted on both goals for Minnesota (6-3-3, 21 points), which improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven matches and sits fifth in the Western Conference standings.
Rodriguez had the match’s final scoring chance but couldn’t convert on a header from the box.
Austin (3-3-5, 14 points) was trying to build on a two-match winning streak that involved a pair of shutouts, and for 65 minutes, that quest appeared in good shape.
With the draw, Austin is 10th in the West, one point out of ninth and two points out of eighth.
Austin’s Brad Stuver and Minnesota’s Drake Callender both collected three saves.
Uzuni posted his team-leading fifth goal on a penalty kick 14 minutes into the match after a hand ball on Minnesota’s Nectarios Triantis.
Minnesota had a penalty-kick opportunity about 13 minutes later, but Loons scoring leader Kelvin Yeboah’s blast hit off the crossbar.
Markanich got Minnesota on the board with his fourth goal of the season in the 69th minute off a header courtesy of Rodriguez’s delivery. Wil Trapp got a secondary assist on the tally.
The Loons attacked again, this time with Pereyra’s goal in the 77th minute, with an assist from Facundo Torres.
The teams also played to a 2-2 draw to open the season in February in Austin.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday, with Minnesota hosting Colorado and Austin visiting San Diego as part of a two-match week.
–Field Level Media
