McGuire Rescues Dynamo in 2-2 Draw at Minnesota United as Yeboah Sets Loons Single-Season Scoring Record

Ten minutes of stoppage time. That was the number on the fourth official's board at Allianz Field on Saturday night, and for Minnesota United, protecting a 2-1 lead, it might as well have been an eternity. It took Houston Dynamo FC less than two of those minutes to make it hurt.

Duncan McGuire, on the field for only a few minutes, headed in from point-blank range in the second minute of stoppage time, and the match finished 2-2. Nobody won, but nobody went home bored either. Kelvin Yeboah set a Minnesota United single-season scoring record, Marcus Caldeira came off the bench to put the Loons in front, and Houston still found a way to leave the Twin Cities with a point.

A Gift, Then a Grind

Minnesota came out patient and comfortable, and for the first quarter hour it looked like the home side's night. Then Lyle Foster happened. In the 18th minute, Foster got the better of Michael Boxall, carried the ball into the box and finished into the bottom left corner. Houston's report says Foster forced the turnover himself and that he became the 23rd player in club history to score in his first start for the Dynamo. Not a bad introduction.

The Loons responded with their best spell of the half. Jonathan Bond got up high to save a Yeboah header in the 29th minute, Yeboah dragged a shot wide a minute later, and Bond then denied Wil Trapp's long-range effort. Aziel Jackson headed just wide from a set piece in the 43rd minute, and Houston carried a 1-0 lead to the locker room.

Yeboah Makes History

It took Minnesota three minutes of the second half to find the equalizer. Morris Duggan sent a deep cross to the back post, and Yeboah slid in to finish into the top left corner from the right side of the six-yard box. Minnesota United says it was his 15th goal of the season, a new club single-season scoring record. On a night when the Loons badly needed something to feel good about, that one landed.

The middle stretch belonged to the benches. Both coaches made changes in the 63rd minute, with Caldeira, Nectarios Triantis and Mauricio González coming on for Minnesota and Nick Markanich and Franco Negri entering for Houston. Houston says it was the first time the Markanich twins, Nick and Minnesota's Anthony, have shared an MLS field. Caldeira made an instant impact, heading at goal from the right side of the six-yard box in the 70th minute, only for Bond to save it at the top of the net.

Bond went down after that stop, and after a lengthy stoppage he was replaced by Blake Gillingham in the 75th minute because of an injury. Three minutes later, Gillingham was picking the ball out of his net. Cherrion Valerius, making his MLS debut according to Minnesota, drove a low cross in from the right and Caldeira finished from close range into the bottom right corner. Minnesota had the lead for the first time.

Ten Minutes of Chaos

The Loons had chances to make it 3-1. Trapp missed from outside the box in the 80th minute and was denied by Gillingham two minutes later. Then came the board: 10 minutes added.

Houston won a corner almost immediately, Nick Markanich headed the ball toward McGuire near the six-yard box, and McGuire nodded it into the top right corner. Houston says it was Markanich's first assist of the season and McGuire's first goal for the club. That made two first-time Dynamo scorers in one match, which the club says has now happened 16 times in its history.

The rest of stoppage time was pure pinball. Kyle Duncan blazed over from the right side of the six-yard box for Minnesota a minute after the equalizer, the kind of chance that will feature prominently in the next film session. Drake Callender saved from Mateusz Bogusz and then Artur. Lucas Halter headed wide, Markanich fired over and had another effort blocked, and Antônio Carlos missed narrowly from the middle of the box, all in the same frantic minute. González nearly picked out the top left corner from distance, and Guilherme's final effort sailed wide. The whistle finally came 12 minutes into stoppage time.

Players Who Mattered

Kelvin Yeboah took four shots, put two on target and scored the record-setting goal before being subbed off deep in stoppage time.

Marcus Caldeira came off the bench and produced two shots, both on target, and the goal that should have won it. Minnesota United's report credited his movement and link-up play for making the two-striker setup work.

Drake Callender made four saves, all after halftime, including two in the stoppage-time scramble after Houston equalized.

Lyle Foster scored in his first start and, per Houston, was signed on loan last month after four seasons with Burnley.

Jonathan Bond made three saves before his exit, including the two on Yeboah and Trapp that kept Houston in front at halftime.

The Turning Point

Houston's bench decided this one. Nick Markanich, sent on in the 63rd minute, and McGuire, introduced in the 89th, combined for the equalizer within a few minutes of McGuire's arrival. Minnesota's changes worked too, with Caldeira scoring off the bench, but Houston's final throw of the dice landed. When a late substitute scores with his only shot of the night, the turning point picks itself.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: Dead even at 15 apiece, with six on target for each side.
• Saves: Four apiece. Callender made all four for Minnesota. Bond made three and Gillingham one for Houston.
• Possession: Houston held 54.1 percent of the ball.
• Fouls: Minnesota committed 16 to Houston's four.
• Clearances: Houston cleared 28 times to Minnesota's 15.

What It Means

Houston move to 13-6-9 with 45 points. The Dynamo say they have now avoided defeat in 11 of 14 matches since returning from the World Cup break, though this was their fourth straight league game without a win. They visit San Diego FC on Wednesday.

Minnesota United sit at 7-9-12 with 30 points. The draw snapped a five-match league losing streak, which counts as progress, but letting a lead slip in stoppage time stings regardless. The Loons visit the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday and then host St. Louis CITY SC.

The Closing Take

Minnesota spent 90 minutes building a perfectly good house and then watched the 10-minute stoppage-time board act like a wrecking ball. Yeboah's record will look great in the history books. The standings will remember the extra time.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Additional match details as reported by Minnesota United FC and Houston Dynamo FC.