Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Minnesota United’s Leagues Cup campaign opened with a loss at home, as Liga MX side FC Juárez took a 2-1 win at Allianz Field on Tuesday night.
Juárez struck first in the first half, when Guilherme Castilho got behind the Loons’ back line and headed home a long ball from José Luis Rodríguez. Minnesota answered in the 34th minute through Tomás Chancalay, who scored from the far side of the box and found the low near corner to level the match. The equalizer held up for only four minutes, as Óscar Estupiñán put the visitors back in front on a play that started with a Jairo Torres feed.
It was Chancalay’s second goal in as many matches. He also scored in Minnesota’s 1-1 draw with San Diego FC at Allianz Field on August 1st, the club’s final MLS match before the tournament break.Head coach Cameron Knowles made several changes with just two days of rest between matches, starting Alec Smir in goal in place of Drake Callender and shifting captain Morris Duggan to the center of the back line.
Minnesota controlled possession for much of the second half but could not find an equalizer.
The result leaves the Loons without a point through their first match of Phase One. Each club plays three matches in the group stage, and only the top four teams from each league advance to the knockout rounds — eight of the 36 clubs in the field.Minnesota hosts Tigres UANL on Friday, August 7th at 8:00 p.m. at Allianz Field, then closes Phase One against Atlante FC on Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 p.m.
The tournament runs through September 6th.
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