It would have been reasonable to expect Minnesota United, the NASL leaders, to dominate a game in which they had a man advantage for virtually the entire match. Instead, United were run off the field by the New York Cosmos, and were lucky to escape New York with a 1-1 draw.

Christian Ramirez scored from the penalty spot just eight minutes into the game, after Cosmos keeper Joe Maurer took down the onrushing Daniel Mendes in the penalty area. Maurer was sent off for the challenge, and Ramirez slotted home his 13th goal of the season.

Thereafter, though, Minnesota was nothing short of terrible, even given the lead and the man advantage. Mads Stokkelien finally scored for the Cosmos to knot the game in the 74th minute, but by then, United should have already been a goal or two down. Andres Flores should have scored just 20 minutes in to the game, when a bounce beat United defender Justin Davis, and keeper Matt Van Oekel had to parry away a close-range shot from Flores. Van Oekel was on display again, twice in two minutes in the early second half, denying both Hagop Chirisian and Stefan Dimitrov from close range after both had found their way through the floundering Minnesota defense.

As the second half wore on, the Cosmos grew stronger and United flailed even harder. Cosmos right back Hunter Freeman should have scored from a header, with the net wide open in front of him, but mistimed his leap. On the other end, Ramirez pulled a shot just wide - in what was really Minnesota's only chance of the game, a sad statement of just how punchless their offense was.

After Stokkelien had turned home the cross, Minnesota collapsed completely. Davis ran over Flores in the Minnesota area, a fairly clear penalty that was somehow ignored by the referee. One minute later, Van Oekel had to come rushing out to clear a long ball that had escaped the inert Minnesota defense, and his sliding clearance rebounded to Freeman, who was unlucky to see his long-range blast rebound off the post.

In the end, United was more than lucky to escape with a draw. The end of the game saw a sight that perhaps has never before been seen on a soccer field - Giovanni Savarese, the coach of the team that was down to ten men, berating the officials for not adding more time onto the end of the game.

It's difficult to describe how hapless United's performance was. Somehow, even though the Cosmos had one fewer player on the field, they were able to outnumber Minnesota on both ends of the field. United were neither able to control possession nor press the Cosmos defense; their only tactic was to attempt long balls over the New York defense. Penalty aside, Minnesota's super attack was completely neutralized - not the result that United wanted to see, in what was a preview of a potential playoff matchup.

Somehow, the Cosmos had the freedom to run wherever they wanted on the flanks. Somehow, they were able to break up every United passing play in the middle of the field - and even turn them into counterattacks. Somehow, New York was first to every loose ball and highest for every header.

Minnesota can justly be proud of their spring-season title, and will point to their current eleven-game unbeaten run. It's worth mentioning, though, that they've been comprehensively outplayed by the Cosmos twice this season, and though they beat San Antonio on the season's opening day, they've yet to play the Scorpions in the fall.

For the moment, United remains atop the standings. But if it's a championship they're after, they'll have to win it against San Antonio and New York, the other teams ahead of the NASL pack. After their performance tonight, it would seem that against those teams, even an extra player isn't enough to make them the favorite.