Minnesota United Vs Sporting KC: 4 things we learned – Magic Mannone secures playoff spot

3. Game of crosses

The validity of that Barath goal can be debated but what it did do was set the tone for the game early on. From that moment, both sides set about getting into wide areas as many times as possible, firing the ball into the box and testing the opposition centre-backs:

It makes sense: Minnesota have a physical, instinctive striker in Mason Toye, while SKC looked at their best on the night when flooding men forward and loading up the box. Away from home, you sometimes have to get down and dirty with this side of the game.

Sure, both sides had their moments of slick play and neat interchanges, SKC especially during the first half, but by the end of the match, the two sides had attempted 45 crosses: 30 from Minnesota and 15 from SKC.

While it was often rudimentary, this approach did lead to a lot of action inside the box, some interesting and incredible goalkeeping moments, and one hell of a watch as each side looked to turn the opposition box into the Alamo. And of course, it made absolute sense that Ozzie Alonso’s equaliser for the Loons came from, you guessed it, a cross.