Minnesota United settles for draw with Portland after Robin Lod’s late equalizer

Minnesota United is still looking up at San Diego FC in the MLS Western Conference standings — and strangely, it’s because the Loons can’t quite get things done at home.

A late goal from Robin Lod canceled out a Loons own goal, but when the dust settled, all Minnesota United could manage was a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.

“We probably didn’t deserve to to lose, but we probably didn’t deserve to win either,” Loons coach Eric Ramsay said. “I think it was important that we didn’t lose tonight. I think it was important that we backed up two wins with at least the point, and we’re chipping away, as we have done all season.”

The draw, and Colorado’s loss to Sporting Kansas City, put Minnesota officially into the MLS playoffs. “I think we’ve exceeded everybody’s expectations,” Ramsay said. “But all the conversation has been about competing at the top end of the table and being in contention for trophies, and it hasn’t been about resting on our laurels having qualified for the playoffs.”

Minnesota’s home record (7-4-4) remains worse than its road record (7-2-5), just like last season, when the Loons won more road games than home games. It’s odd for a franchise that for years struggled on the road but was all but unbeatable at Allianz Field.

The Loons also failed to beat yet another likely Western Conference playoff team at home. Of the eight other teams currently in the playoff spots, Minnesota has beaten only San Jose and Seattle at home this season, while losing four times and drawing the other two.

The Loons haven’t lost consecutive league games all season — but they also haven’t managed to win three in a row at any point, either.

The Loons’ all-time leading goal-scorer brought it down, fought off a challenge, and then poked home the game-tying goal to rescue a point for the home team.

Said Trapp of his pass: “It’s funny, man. We’ve been training that all week, actually — not with Robin, which is the irony of it.”

Minnesota started Saturday three points behind San Diego at the top of the West, but with the Loons at home and San Diego facing a difficult trip to LAFC on Sunday, there were those that hoped that Minnesota could go into a Sept. 13 game in San Diego with the two teams equal on points.

Instead, the Loons will trail San Diego by at least two points and perhaps more — and with only four league games remaining after that game, Minnesota’s chances of claiming the top seed in the West or competing for the Supporters’ Shield are dimming.

Dayne St. Clair made several key saves, but in the 80th minute, one of his saves went wrong. The Loons goalkeeper pushed out a shot from Portland midfielder Antony, but his save went directly into the feet of retreating defender Nicolás Romero, who couldn’t do anything but accidentally bundle the ball into his own net.

MLS standings

MLS teams are allowed nine players on the bench, but for the fourth consecutive game, Minnesota had only enough fit and available players to fill eight of those spots, even with two recent signees in the team.