Minnesota United struck late in the second half to pull out a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday in St. Paul, Minn.
Minnesota (5-6-5, 20 points) pressed in the late stages and finally got level in the 89th minute when Kervin Arriaga’s strike from the top of the box was deflected into the net.
Toronto (3-5-9, 18 points) has scored one goal or fewer in seven of its past eight matches.
Neither side generated much in the early stages of the first half, with both clubs failing to register so much as a shot attempt through the first eight minutes.
Things started to pick up soon after.
Federico Bernardeschi forced Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair into a diving stop in the 10th minute as the Italian international aimed far side from the top of the box.
In the 18th minute, Minnesota United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane got in close for a chance but couldn’t get to the net as Toronto defender Aime Mabika got his foot on the ball.
Mabika denied the home side again in the 28th minute with a goal-line save on Franco Fragapane, who came streaking into the 6-yard box looking to take advantage of goalkeeper Sean Johnson way off his line.
Minnesota had a pair of chances early in the second half but struggled to convert. In the 46th minute, Hassani Dotson’s shot from the box rolled just wide left. In the 49th minute, Hlongwane tried for a cross into the box, but with no teammates there to receive it, it was recovered quickly by the visitors.
Lorenzo Insigne gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute. Bernardeschi powered up the middle into the attacking third and sent a quick pass over to Richie Laryea, who a pass through the box to Insigne.
Emanuel Reynoso, who made his season debut when he entered the game as a substitute, came close to getting Minnesota on the board in the 73rd minute with a cross-body shot high inside the box, but he just missed the right post.
–Field Level Media
