Kelvin Yeboah's 90th-Minute Header Earns Minnesota United a 2-2 Draw at Austin FC

Austin FC had the lead, the late momentum and a sold-out Q2 Stadium ready to toast a home-opening win. Then Devin Padelford, a 78th-minute substitute, curled in a cross and Kelvin Yeboah buried a header from point-blank range in the 90th minute.

That header earned Minnesota United a 2-2 draw on Saturday night in front of 20,738 fans, a game in which each side twice found the net and neither could close the deal. Brendan Hines-Ike and Myrto Uzuni scored for Austin, Morris Duggan and Yeboah answered for the Loons, and both clubs leave Texas with one point and plenty to chew on.

A Corner, a Corner and a Lot of Chaos

Austin needed seven minutes to strike. Michael Boxall conceded a corner, Facundo Torres whipped it in, and Hines-Ike, left unmarked according to Minnesota's own match report, headed it into the bottom left corner. For Torres, who Austin said arrived as a Designated Player signing this offseason, it was a first goal contribution in Verde, and it came before most fans had finished their first drink.

Hines-Ike nearly doubled the lead in the 13th minute with another header, this one saved by Drake Callender. Minnesota's early play was frantic rather than fluent, by its own club's description, and the Loons needed half an hour to find their feet. When they did, they started living in Austin's half. Tomás Chancalay fired over from distance after a corner in the 16th, Wil Trapp was booked in the 25th, and Yeboah headed a Chancalay cross just over after a corner in the 32nd.

The equalizer came out of that pressure in the 40th. Brad Stuver saved Chancalay's shot from the left side of the box, the save produced a corner, and Joaquín Pereyra's delivery found Duggan, who finished from very close range. Minnesota said it was Duggan's first MLS goal. Stuver then kept it level in the first minute of stoppage time, saving a Yeboah shot from the center of the box.

Austin Push, Callender Pushes Back

Austin created the better chances after the break, and Callender was the reason it stayed level for so long. He saved a Torres shot from the middle of the box in the 53rd minute after a Jon Gallagher cross, then denied Gallagher himself from the right side in the 58th. Minnesota's looks were mostly half-chances, with Nectarios Triantis heading wide from a set piece in the 61st, while Joseph Rosales sent a shot high and wide for Austin in the 65th.

Both benches got busy. Cameron Knowles, in charge of the Loons as their new head coach, sent on Julian Gressel for Bongokuhle Hlongwane in the 65th and Carlos Harvey a minute later. Nico Estévez answered by sending on Robert Taylor for Jayden Nelson in the 69th.

Austin broke through in the 76th minute. Gallagher's headed pass found Uzuni on the doorstep, and he poked it in from very close range. 2-1, and Q2 Stadium sounded like it had seen this movie before.

It had not seen the ending.

The Turning Point: Knowles Rolls the Dice

In the 78th minute, Knowles made the change that rescued the night, sending on Padelford, a Homegrown defender per the club, for Anthony Markanich. Austin kept probing for a third: Callender saved from Dani Pereira in the 84th, Robert Taylor fired wide from outside the box in the 85th, and Torres missed to the right from a Taylor headed pass in the 86th. Minnesota sent on Troy Putt, making what the club said was his MLS debut, and Mamadou Dieng in the 86th.

Then, in the 90th minute, Padelford found acres of room in front of him and swung in a cross. Yeboah met it from very close range and headed it into the high center of the goal. 2-2. Minnesota's report called Padelford "the hometown kid," and he will not have to buy his own coffee in the Twin Cities for a while.

Austin lost Robert Taylor to an injury in stoppage time, with CJ Fodrey replacing him and Jon Bell coming on for Rosales. Three added minutes passed without another clear chance.

Star Watch

Kelvin Yeboah led Minnesota with three shots, two on target, and the club said the header opened his 2026 scoring account. He was a constant threat, with chances in the 32nd minute, in first-half stoppage time and finally in the 90th.

Drake Callender made four saves, including three in the second half, and gave his side the platform for the comeback. Without his stops on Torres, Gallagher and Pereira, the late equalizer would not have mattered.

Jon Gallagher was Austin's most dangerous outlet down the right. He set up Uzuni's goal, forced a save from Callender and supplied the cross for Torres' 53rd-minute chance.

Brendan Hines-Ike scored the opener and put both of his attempts on target, while Facundo Torres finished with an assist, two shots and the corner that started the evening's scoring.

Morris Duggan marked his first MLS goal with a central defender's finish, the kind that does not need style points.

Stats That Matter

• Possession: Austin 57.4 percent, Minnesota 42.6 percent.
• Shots: Minnesota 11 with 4 on target; Austin 10 with 6 on target.
• Saves: Callender 4, Stuver 2.
• Corners: Minnesota 8, Austin 7.
• Clearances: Minnesota 36, Austin 26.

What It Means

Both clubs open at 1 point with records of 0-1-0. Austin said the crowd of 20,738 marked its 89th consecutive MLS home sellout, extending the league's longest active streak, and the home side will feel it left two points on the field. Austin hosts D.C. United on Sunday, March 1.

Minnesota, starting what the club called its tenth season in MLS, now heads to Allianz Field for its home opener against FC Cincinnati next weekend. The Loons' report said the side played with a far higher line of confrontation than in 2025, and the late fightback suggests the new approach has some resilience built in.

The numbers frame it as a fair split. Austin had more of the ball and more shots on target. Minnesota had more total attempts, more corners and the last word.

Closing Take

Minnesota's report set the scene in the live music capital of the world, with at least four tubas playing in the crowd. Fittingly, the Loons saved their encore for the 90th minute. Austin had the better setlist for most of the night, but Padelford and Yeboah played the song everyone will remember.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Additional reporting from Austin FC (austinfc.com) and Minnesota United (mnufc.com); neither club page carried postgame quotes.