Minnesota United Defeats FC Cincinnati in Chilly Home Opener

Kelvin Yeboah's second-half goal secures three points for the Loons in their 2026 home debut.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:39am

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Minnesota United secured a 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in their 2026 home opener at Allianz Field. Kelvin Yeboah's 64th-minute header, set up by a deflected free kick from Tomás Chancalay, proved to be the difference-maker as the Loons earned all three points in a tightly contested match.

Why it matters

The win marks a strong start to Minnesota United's tenth season in MLS, building on the momentum from their opening day victory. The Loons' tactical evolution and ability to grind out results in challenging conditions will be key as they look to contend for a playoff spot in 2026.

The details

Minnesota United coach Adrian Knowles rolled out a nearly identical starting lineup to their opening day win, with the only change being Jefferson Díaz in for DJ Taylor on the right side of the back three. The Loons struggled to gain a foothold early on as FC Cincinnati pressed high and effectively pinned the hosts in their own half. However, as the match wore on, the efforts of Nectarios Triantis and Tomás Chancalay enabled Minnesota to win the ball higher up the pitch, forcing Cincinnati to drop numbers back and opening up space for the Loons to play into.

  • The match was Minnesota United's 2026 home opener at Allianz Field.
  • Kelvin Yeboah scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute.

The players

Kelvin Yeboah

The Ghanaian striker scored the decisive goal for Minnesota United, heading home a deflected free kick in the second half.

Tomás Chancalay

The Argentine midfielder set up Yeboah's goal with a dangerous free kick that deflected off the Cincinnati wall.

Drake Callender

The Loons' goalkeeper made several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet and secure the victory.

Michael Boxall

Minnesota United's club captain was forced to leave the match due to injury, but the backline remained solid with Devin Padelford stepping in.

Adrian Knowles

The Loons' head coach oversaw a tactical shift that allowed his team to gain control of the match and ultimately secure the three points.

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What they’re saying

“It was a fantastic match to bring year 10 to Allianz Field. The play on the field was matched by the passion in the stands, and the result reflected the desire shown by the Black and Blue faithful.”

— Adrian Knowles, Head Coach, Minnesota United

What’s next

Minnesota United will look to build on this result as they hit the road for their next two matches, facing Nashville SC on March 7 and then traveling to San Diego on March 22.

The takeaway

Minnesota United's ability to grind out a hard-fought victory in their home opener, despite early struggles, showcases the team's resilience and tactical flexibility as they aim to contend for a playoff spot in their tenth MLS season.