Minnesota United draws with San Jose to run unbeaten streak to six games

Minnesota United scored in Saturday's fourth minute, but then not again in a 1-1 draw at San Jose.

Counting the points game by game, Loons coach Adrian Heath took the one earned Saturday well enough into the night.

His team now is undefeated in its last six MLS regular-season games, 3-0-3 starting with a July 12 victory at Houston.

The Loons started a busy week with last Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Seattle and Wednesday's 3-0 home victory over Colorado with at least something gained at PayPal Park.

"Hey, six games undefeated, four-point week," Heath said. "We'll keep moving on."

His team remained seventh in a 14-team Western Conference where nine teams make the playoffs. The Loons now are 6-6-2 on the road and 3-2-7 at home in Allianz Field with nine regular-season games remaining.

Saturday, San Jose and the Loons swapped goals in the first 16 minutes. Composed Loons striker Teemu Pukki scored his second in as many games. San Jose teenager Cade Cowell's deflected shot from beyond the 18-yard box's corner got Loons keeper Dayne St. Clair leaning the wrong way.

Pukki's goal 3:48 into the game was the Loons' fastest goal to start a game this season.

The Loons appeared to regain the lead when Pukki scored again, in the 60th minute. But a lengthy video review overruled the original call – or lack thereof – on the field.

It disallowed the goal and determined the ball hit Loons star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso for a hand ball before he shuffled a sly pass to Pukki, who drove a powerful shot eight yards high into the goal.

Afterward, Heath complained about rules that shouldn't overrule the call on the field unless the review determines it is "clear and obvious"

"You know what I'm going to say about `clear and obvious,' " Heath said. "I didn't make the rules up and I didn't make `clear and obvious' up. If you have to look at it for five minutes, it's not clear and obvious. I haven't seen it.

Heath praised Reynoso's playmaking and Pukki's poise and positioning on both goals, even if just the first one counted. Reynoso contained the ball with his body as he spun into the open field and then he sent a perfect 25-yard pass to Pukki on the run inside the 18-yard box.

"Great unbelievable first touch from Reya and Teemu's movement was outstanding," Heath said. "Obviously, it's a good finish. Trademark Teemu Pukki. That's two-in-two [games]. Hopefully, we can get him on a roll … If we can get him to score five, six goals the next few weeks, I think that will put us in a good spot."

Heath also praised St. Clair for at least two spectacular saves he made in the game's waning minutes.

"A couple unbelievable saves," Heath said. "He has certainly [earned] his money this evening because he has come up with two huge saves."

Seventh place to start the night, the Loons played the eighth-place Earthquakes without injured leading goal-scorer Bongokuhle Hlongwane and suspended right back D.J. Taylor.

He's the third Loons player called to their national teams after Saturday's game. Pukki, Sang Bin, and young, versatile Joseph Rosales will miss next Saturday's home game against New England.

All are expected back in two weeks for a Sept. 16 home game against Sporting Kansas City.

Hlongwane missed a third consecutive game. He injured his knee at New York City FC on Aug. 20 in the first half of the team's first game back from Leagues Cup play.

MLS veteran Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, for the second consecutive game, started in Hlongwane's place. Meanwhile, Hassani Dotson moved to the left-side attacking position while Rosales again dropped back to left back.