Minnesota United 2, Philadelphia Union 3 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

A goal by Homegrown defender Auston Trusty with four minutes remaining handed Minnesota United (6W-6L-3D, 21 points) their first-ever MLS loss at Allianz Field as the Philadelphia Union escaped with a 3-2 road win in Week 14 to remain entrenched at the top of the Eastern Conference (8W-4L-4D, 28 points).

Two second-half subs helped set up the Union game-winner. Marco Fabian won a corner kick which led up to the goal and Ilsinho, who entered just before the corner kick, lofted a tasty ball to Trusty, who was hovering in the box after the corner kick. The 20-year-old Trusty beat a Loons defender to Ilsinho's service and used a deft touch to set up the winning finish. 

Minnesota United, who were 3W-0L-3D at home since opening brand new Allianz Field on April 13, looked more likely to snatch a late winner after Kevin Molino equalized at 2-2 in the 77th minute with his first MLS goal since March 2018. 

The visiting Union took the lead on two occasions in the first half -- via a Jamiro Monteiro penalty kick conversion and a majestic Haris Medunjanin free kick -- but a sellout crowd exhorted Minnesota United to push on. 

Rookie Hassani Dotson scored on a spectacular volley to make it 1-1 in the first half and Molino momentarily equalized at 2-2, only for the Union to snatch another opportunistic goal via their center back. 

Goals

• 18' – PHI – Jamiro Monteiro (PK) | WATCH
• 28' – MIN – Hassani Dotson | WATCH
• 44' – PHI – Haris Medunjanin | WATCH
• 77' – MIN – Kevin Molino | WATCH
• 86' – PHI – Auston Trusty | WATCH

Three Things 

THE BIG PICTURE: Any remaining skeptics received further proof that the Philadelphia Union are no fluke in 2019. The East leaders are balanced, organized and hard-working and the personnel upgrades in 2019 have given them players who can make big plays: from defensive hero Kai Wagner, to Jamiro Monteiro and Sergio Santos, who won the opening penalty kick. Minnesota played well, but they will be left thinking about where they can make similar tweaks to their roster in the summer window after they came up short on a handful of decisive plays. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: When Molino hit the back of the net with more than 10 minutes remaining, the momentum looked to be pointing toward a Loons winner. But as they've shown on previous road trips -- the Union are now 3W-2L-2D away from home -- the visitors were ruthless and capitalized on their key moments with a skillful winner from their young center back:

MAN OF THE MATCH
: The Philadelphia Union put in an impressive team effort on defense and when players weren't giving up their bodies to block shots, goalkeeper
Andre Blake
 (below) came up big. He was credited with four total saves on the afternoon, and all of them were of the spectacular variety.

Next Up

• MIN: Sat., June 8 at Colorado Rapids (9 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; DAZN in Canada)
• PHI: Sat., June 8 vs NY Red Bulls (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; DAZN in Canada)