Minnesota United lineup changes apparent in 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake

Minnesota United changed its formation and its starting 11 considerably for Wednesday night's 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake played at altitude and in nearly 100-degree temperatures in Sandy, Utah.

It was only the Loons' second loss in their past 12 games, a still-successful 8-2-2 stretch dating to late June in which they have been MLS' most productive team.

Still third in the Western Conference, the Loons hadn't been shut out since a 1-0 home loss to New York City FC on May 28.

They left star playmaker Emanuel Reynoso home to rest him before Saturday's game against fourth-place FC Dallas begins a stretch of the regular season's final six games.

Coach Adrian Heath made five other starting 11 adjustments and opened the game with a 4-3-3 alignment rather than his preferred 4-2-3-1. He said he did so with Saturday's upcoming game in mind and knowing his team wouldn't arrive back home until 3 a.m. Thursday.

Included were the first MLS starts for newcomers Mender Garcia and Jonathan Gonzalez. There also were halftime adjustments while trailing 2-0 that brought on substitute Robin Lod and veteran goalkeeper Tyler Miller for hurting starter Dayne St. Clair.

St. Clair dislocated a finger in that first half, Heath said, adding, "They put it back in, but it was a bit sore so we decided to not take any chances."

Sergio Cordova scored his eighth goal in MLS play this season in the sixth minute. The forward established position inside Loons left back Alan Benitez at the edge of the 6-yard box. Cordova controlled a lob cross with his chest and with two touches scored from short range around defender Michael Boxall and past St. Clair.

Jefferson Savarino scored RSL's second goal on a slide through the box that connected him with a crossing pass that deflected off Loons starting center back Brent Kallman. The ball skipped off Kallman and went straight to Savarino, who redirected it with his left foot past St. Clair.

"There's certain ways of losing games," Heath said. "The three goals we gave, to say they were poor would be an underexaggeration. We didn't do well enough to stop the cross. Our marking inside the box was really poor. We spoke about it. They get the ball out wide and put crosses in the box and you have to be in certain spots. We were not in them certain spots.

"Football is about both boxes, and tonight we didn't do enough in one and we couldn't keep them out of the other."

RSL started the game in sixth place but has lost only twice at home all season. The Loons had won four of their past five road games until Wednesday and had reached a club-record six road victories getting there.

"It was a warm day, of course," Trapp said. "Both teams had to deal with it. We could have been better managing the game, maintaining possession, being proactive but not extending ourselves too far. A game where they're used to the altitude and we're not, with the heat and it gets open like it was, that makes it more difficult."

St. Clair came out of the game at halftime after he had his hand evaluated during the first half. Miller came on to play in MLS action for the first time since the season's second week — March 5 against Nashville. Heath made two other substitutions that that brought Lod into the game for Abu Danladi and Oniel Fisher for Benitez.

Heath promised there would be lineup rotation Wednesday and he delivered both, starting with that 4-3-3 formation because of necessity and coach's strategy.

Reynoso stayed behind while fellow attackers Franco Fragapane and Luis Amarilla as well as central midfielder Lod were designated substitutes to start the game.

So, too, was Kervin Arriaga on a night both Garcia and Gonzalez started an MLS game for the first time up in that front three that also included Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Arriaga subbed in during the 69th minute.