Loons’ season, MLS playoff streak end with 3-1 loss to Sporting KC

Minnesota United's turbulent season ended Saturday on MLS' Decision Day with a defining 3-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City.

Sporting K.C's captain Johnny Russell and midfielder Rémi Walter scored within three minutes of each other midway through the first half. They did so on a night when both the Loons and Sporting each needed to win and then needed some help, too, from three other teams to make the playoffs.

Russell scored again, in the 78th minute before veteran defender Michael Boxall scored the Loons' lone goal on a free-kick header in the 81st minute.

For Sporting, it's their 11th trip in 13 seasons there. By getting there, it became the first team in MLS history to start the season winless in the first 10 games (0-7-3) and still make the playoffs.

For the Loons, Saturday's loss stopped them from reaching the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. They hadn't missed them since 2018, their second MLS season.

Their seventh MLS season started with training in early January that was missing star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who didn't report for work and play his first game until early June. He cited family matters involving his 4-year-old daughter.

It ended Saturday after it fired Adrian Heath – the only head coach the franchise had ever had – with two regular-season games remaining and another trip to the playoffs in serious doubt.

The club did so after Heath coached the team through a seven-game winless streak that ended with a lifeless 5-1 loss at Los Angeles F.C. Out went Heath and technical director Mark Watson. He coached the team to a 5-2 home victory over L.A. Galaxy two weeks ago, which sent them to Kansas City on Saturday needing to win first and foremost.

Kansas City needed to do the same.

Sporting had listed stars Alan Pulido and Russell as questionable because of foot and groin injuries respectively. But both started the game and Russell hurt the visitors as he has throughout his career.

Scottish winger Russell scored in the 28th minute, French defensive midfielder Walter scored three minutes later.It was all Sporting K.C. needed. From there, the Loons needed to score at least three goals to win.

Russell now has five goals and 10 assists against the Loons. His first goal on Saturday came on a 1-on-1 move when he cut inside Loons midfielder Jan Gregus and struck a left-footed shot not far inside the 18-yard box for a 1-0 lead.

Walter scored soon thereafter on a run down the middle of the 18-yard box before he converted Daniel Salloi's pass from a run of his own down the left wing.

Salloi assisted on both goals. Russell scored the final goal when he blocked defender Michael Boxall's clearing attempt from near the goal line and re-directed it past Loons keeper Dayne St. Clair.

The Loons arrived at Children's Mercy Park having won there just once in since they entered MLS in 2019 – and that was a 3-0 victory in the 2020 playoffs. Saturday's loss was the Loons' ninth loss there to go with that one playoff win.

They entered knowing they had to beat Sporting Kansas City and then hope at least one of three teams just above them – 7th-place Portland, 8th- place Dallas and 9th-place San Jose – loses and draws.

Sporting knew the same for itself and both teams knew a draw did neither side any good. Left out above the playoff line are the Loons and Portland after its loss to Houston.

McAuley coached his second game since he replaced Heath. He made one significant in his 11, starting experienced Franco Fragapane in young Bongokuhle Hlongwane's place in an unusual 4-3-2-1 formation. Fragapane and Reynoso played up front.

They played just behind striker Teemu Pukki, who scored four goals in his team's 5-2 home victory over L.A. Galaxy two weeks ago in McAuley's debut. Bongokuhle was one of six Loon internationals who returned from national-team duty by Thursday's training after each had been gone thie previous 10 days. The player who traveled the farthest there and back was Hlongwane.

He subbed ithe game in the 66th minute during a foul-filled second half. McAuley started veteran defenders Bakaye Dibassy and Zarek Valentin at the two outside-back positions.

The Star Tribune did not send the writer of this article to the game. This was written using a broadcast, interviews and other material.