Minnesota United FC 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Miguel Ibarra's second half strike was all Minnesota United needed to secure a 1-0 home win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday afternoon at TFC Bank Stadium. 


After a scoreless first half, the match appeared to take a turn for the worse for the home side minutes after the break when Mason Toye was shown a red card for an elbow to Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston. However, it was Minnesota who took advantage when Ibarra put away his own rebound for his first goal of the year. 


Minnesota's goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made three big saves - and the post added two more - to help the Loons earn their first shutout of the season. 


Goals


  • 60' – MIN – Miguel Ibarra WATCH


Three Things


  • THE BIG PICTURE: Minnesota has now won two straight for the second time this year, after failing to put together any winning streak last year. More importantly, they kept their opponent from scoring for the first time, building off last week's one goal conceded.

  • MOMENT OF THE MATCH:
     Playing a man down, Miguel Ibarra would not be denied twice. Having already provided three game-winning assists this year, his first goal of the year proved to be the difference today:

    MAN OF THE MATCH:
     Minnesota goalkeeper
    Bobby Shuttleworth
    didn't score the winning goal, but if not for two big early saves and one late, the Loons may not have taken all three points. First he denied
    Anthony Blondell
    with a
    fingertip save
     in the 8th minute, and then somehow kept a Kendall Waston header off a corner from
    crossing the line
    , and finally fully extended to tip away a curling 
    Brek Shea
     shot to preserve the lead.

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