Minnesota United draws 1-1 with defending champions Los Angeles FC

Minnesota United still has won just twice at home this season after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC. But the Loons have never lost to the defending MLS champions at home, either.

The past four games between the teams at Allianz Field all have been 1-1 draws — and Saturday's came after they swapped goals three minutes apart in a first half dictated by the home team.

LAFC star Carlos Vela, MLS' 2019 Golden Boot winner, turned Loons defender Michael Boxall's misplayed ball into his eighth goal this season in the 21st minute.

It took Loons star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso three minutes to get the equalizer, flicking teammate Kervin Arriaga's chip past LAFC keeper John McCarthy in the 24th minute.

Nobody scored again the rest of the night, but not for lack of chances.

"It's a game I think we should still be winning," Boxall said. "Everything was there in the performance."

The Loons now are 2-2-7 at home, have won five times on the road and sit 10th place in the Western Conference. That's a point below the playoff line and three points out of sixth place.

"I say it every time and I don't pay it lip service," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "We've got incredible atmosphere here. It's the nearest to LAFC and you can't pay much more of a compliment than that, by the way."

The Loons won 5-1 the first time the teams played at Allianz Field, in LAFC's inaugural 2018 season. The teams have played to a 1-1 in four straight games in St. Paul since.

After Saturday's game, Heath was asked what he told his players after another home game without three points gained.

"Well done," he said. "I thought they were excellent, playing the reigning champions. We should have won the game. I thought our football in the first half was probably the best we've seen all season. I've tried to think of somebody who has not done well tonight. A couple of errors cost us, but overall we were outstanding at times."

Those errors included Boxall's miscue and winger Bongokuhle Hlongwane's missed chance at a goal in the 77th minute after Reynoso created the pass on a full run through the 18-yard box that should have been the winner.

"It's one of those split-second turnovers that seem to be how we give other teams opportunities," Boxall said. "Other teams don't have to work as hard for their goals and we are having to work so hard to earn ours. We switch off and gift other teams."

Heath praised Reynoso's playmaking and his performance all night long.

"Outstanding, outstanding," Heath said. "I said on the bench, I've played with some great players. He's up there with anybody. His balance. His vision. His turning ability and knowing where the next pass has to go is as good as I've seen."

Heath said "it's typical of Rey to pass it" when he gave the ball up for Hlongwane rather than taking the shot himself.

Hlongwane's shot past a diving McCarthy went wide right.

Heath also praised Boxall's play all night, except for his part in the one goal the Loons allowed.

"Yeah, Boxy should have done better with it," Heath said. "That's it. It's an error, a mistake. He knows that. We all know that. Apart from that, I thought he was outstanding all evening again."

Heath adjusted his 4-3-2-1 formation out of necessity by starting veteran Bakaye Dibassy at left center-back for injured Micky Tapias, who rolled his ankle during Wednesday's 3-0 victory at Houston.

Loons injured left-side attacker Franco Fragapane remained out, so central midfielder Hassani Dotson moved up the field to Fragapane's spot, playing alongside Reynoso in the middle and Hlongwane on the right.