San Luis spoils Loons’ Leagues Cup hopes in 2-0 upset

Minnesota United needed a win — a big one — to keep its Leagues Cup knockout hopes alive.

Instead, the Loons got this: João Pedro stomping on the pitch in a braggadocious display after scoring off a corner kick just before the half. The Atlético de San Luis forward took his time with his celebration, pacing in front of Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and relishing in the jeers and boos from the Wonderwall.

Regardless of the outcome, San Luis was unlikely to progress in the Leagues Cup. But if Pedro’s peacocking was any indication, the Liga MX club took great pleasure in spoiling the Loons’ chances with a 2-0 upset at Allianz Field on Wednesday night.

“We’re obviously really disappointed with the nature of the performance,” Loons coach Eric Ramsay said, “[and] some of the really critical moments that cost us in terms of defending our own box, the lack of precision and the lack of real decisiveness at the other end.”

No matter what Minnesota United did, its efforts looked futile. The Loons slipped to sixth in the MLS standings entering Wednesday’s final Phase 1 matchup and needed to be in the top four to progress to the Leagues Cup knockout round.

As Minnesota United attempted to pick apart San Luis’ compact defense in the first half, score updates from around the league poured in. The news wasn’t great. Orlando City (No. 2 in the MLS Group Stage standings) topped Necaxa 5-1. Inter Miami (No. 1 in the MLS Group Stage standings) was on its way to a 3-1 victory over Pumas UNAM.

Then came the gut punch: Pedro’s finish in first-half stoppage time — a header as Loons midfielder Owen Gene lost his mark — flipped the tone of the night.

Minnesota United no longer had a fair shot at progressing to the quarterfinals. It was a faint possibility, at best.

SUMMARY: Atlético de San Luis 2, Loons 0

The Loons’ one-goal deficit at halftime wasn’t for a lack of chances. Despite a patient San Luis defense, Kelvin Yeboah struck the left post; Joseph Rosales sent a ball high and wide left; Joaquín Pereyra had two tries; and Julian Gressel blasted the ball over the crossbar after a dazzling midfield buildup from Pereyra and Robin Lod.

And that was just the first 20 minutes.

Pereyra said in Spanish that, considering the role goal differential played in Leagues Cup, it was very difficult for the team to maintain its patience. On top of that, Pereyra said the team was aware of Orlando’s ongoing drubbing — one of many things he said contributed to the team losing its calm.

“We really lacked that precision around the top of the box,” Ramsay said. “I think we could have been there for another couple of hours and perhaps wouldn’t have scored.”

But San Luis wasn’t done. In almost cruel fashion, the Liga MX club scored again — this time in the 89th minute with a right-footed shot from Sebastián Pérez Bouquet into the top left corner. San Luis cleared its bench, mobbing Pérez Bouquet in celebration as Loons fans across the stadium began to head to the exits.

With Minnesota United’s League Cup aspirations dashed — which Ramsay noted will help reduce fixture congestion moving forward — the club will return its focus to the regular season.