Anthony Markanich's Rebound Goal Sends Minnesota United Past FC Dallas 1-0

Anthony Markanich is listed as a wing back. On Wednesday night in Frisco, he played like a poacher who had wandered into the wrong position group and refused to leave.

Minnesota United FC beat FC Dallas 1-0 at Toyota Stadium, and the only goal came from Markanich following up his own saved shot in the 31st minute. Dallas outshot the visitors 15 to 5, but only two of those attempts hit the target, and Drake Callender handled both of them. Minnesota left Texas with a clean sheet, a fourth straight league win and a lot of tired legs.

Dallas Come Out Swinging

The hosts started like they had been told the game was 60 minutes long. Petar Musa and Santiago Moreno both had shots blocked in the ninth minute, Joaquín Valiente had another one charged down in the 18th, and Minnesota were pinned back for much of the opening stretch. Minnesota's own recap described the Dallas pressure in those first 20 minutes as relentless, which is fair.

The Loons survived and slowly found an outlet. Markanich, already booked in the fourth minute, swung in a cross that Kelvin Yeboah headed toward the bottom left corner in the 24th, only for Michael Collodi to save it. A minute later, Callender got down to stop a Shaq Moore effort at the other end.

The Goal: Second Time's the Charm

The breakthrough had some craft to it. Minnesota worked the ball down the left until Owen Gene reached the end line, and the club's report says Gene nutmegged his defender before picking out Markanich near the six-yard box. Collodi saved the first shot. Markanich did not stop running, and he jabbed the rebound into the bottom left corner from close range.

Dallas nearly answered from a set piece in the 35th minute, but Osaze Urhoghide headed wide. Moreno picked up a yellow card in the 41st, and the first half ended with two late Dallas chances, a blocked Musa shot and a Moore header that slid wide.

Eric Quill Reshuffles, Minnesota Hold

Dallas head coach Eric Quill changed the approach at halftime, according to Minnesota's recap, and then changed the personnel. Ramiro came on in the 61st minute, followed a minute later by Logan Farrington and Sam Sarver. Sarver went close almost right away, dragging a shot just wide from the right side of the box.

The night got worse for Dallas in the 70th minute when Musa went off injured, with Patrickson Delgado replacing him. Delgado was lively, with a shot blocked in the 71st, another just wide in the 87th and one more blocked in the 88th.

Dallas' only shot on target after the break came from Farrington in the 79th minute, and his effort from distance was straight at Callender. Minnesota head coach Cameron Knowles had already freshened things up in the 70th, sending on Mauricio González and Devin Padelford for Yeboah and Markanich, and the Loons saw out four minutes of stoppage time without real trouble.

Players Who Made the Difference

Anthony Markanich took two shots, put both on target and scored the winner. According to Minnesota, he now has two league goals and an assist in 2026, and he earned a spot on MLS's Team of the Matchday.

Drake Callender made two saves and kept the clean sheet. The club notes it came in his 100th MLS regular-season start, which is a nice way to celebrate a round number.

Owen Gene created the goal, even if ESPN's data credits no assist. The vision to find Markanich after beating his man was the difference.

Tomás Chancalay stretched Dallas with switches of play, per the club, and forced a save from Collodi in the 62nd minute.

Michael Collodi made three saves for Dallas and did not deserve to lose on a rebound.

Turning Point: The Follow-Up

Most goals start with a pass. This one was decided by an effort. Collodi made a good save on Markanich's first attempt, and on most nights the defenders get there first. Markanich got there first instead. In a game with five Minnesota shots, that is the kind of margin you need, and the Loons converted their one moment.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: Dallas 15, Minnesota 5. On target, Minnesota led 4 to 2.
• Crosses: Dallas attempted 25 and completed only four.
• Clearances: Minnesota made 29 to Dallas' 19, a measure of how much they had to defend.
• Possession: Nearly even, with Minnesota holding 50.8 percent.
• Interceptions: Dallas made 20 to Minnesota's 12, and still could not turn turnovers into goals.

What It Means

Minnesota are 5-2-2 with 17 points, and this was their fourth straight league win, after victories at the LA Galaxy, at San Diego and at home against Portland. The club puts its unbeaten streak at six. Knowles started the same lineup for the fourth straight league game, and the club says it was the team's fourth clean sheet in league play.

FC Dallas fall to 3-4-2 with 13 points. The club called it their first home defeat of the season and noted that they had gone 271 days without a home loss in regular-season play. Minnesota's recap pointed out that it also ended Dallas' five-game unbeaten run. There was a small consolation: Moreno made his first start for the club, and the club extended its regular-season sellout streak to 41 matches. Late on, Dallas also finished with a front three of Farrington, Sarver and Nicholas Simmonds, which the club said was the first time this season its three attackers had all come from the last three MLS SuperDrafts.

Dallas visit Seattle on Saturday. Minnesota host LAFC on Saturday in what looks like a real test of how good this streak is.

The Closing Take

Minnesota's win was the soccer version of a closer working out of a bases-loaded jam: give up the loud contact, live with the traffic, and get the outs that matter. Dallas had the ball, the crowd and the crosses. Minnesota had the one finish that counted, and Markanich keeps showing up where wing backs are not supposed to be.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Club notes as reported by MNUFC.com and FCDallas.com; no postgame quotes were published on the official pages consulted.