Goalkeeper from Minnesota United Sets Historic Record in Leagues Cup

On Tuesday night, Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United’s goalkeeper, delivered one of the most incredible performances, breaking records and leaving everyone in awe. With a performance bordering on the supernatural, St. Clair made 16 saves, setting a new Leagues Cup record and securing a 1-0 victory over Necaxa from LIGA MX.

This wasn’t just any match, far from it. At the 20-minute mark, defender Hugo Bacharach was sent off, leaving Minnesota with 10 players on the field and exponentially increasing the pressure on St. Clair. But he didn’t flinch. On the contrary, it seemed like he found an endless source of energy and focus.

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Loïc Mesanvi, a winger signed on a short-term deal from Minnesota’s MLS NEXT Pro team, was full of praise: “It was unbelievable. He was incredible and kept us in the game.” Midfielder Joseph Rosales added: “He showed his talent, and that’s why we won.”

But the story began to unfold even before St. Clair went into hero mode. At the 10-minute mark, Robin Lod converted a penalty that put Minnesota ahead. The goal was a sign of things to come. From then on, it was a one-man show by the Canadian goalkeeper. He matched the MLS record for saves in a single game, set in 2019 by Maxime Crépeau, then with Vancouver Whitecaps. And more: he shattered the previous Minnesota record of 11 saves, set by Vito Mannone in 2019.

Robin Lod, visibly emotional after the match, summed up everyone’s feelings: “It was one of the best individual performances I’ve ever seen at Allianz Field. It was incredible for him, and he carried the team on his back.”

Beyond his technical skills, St. Clair demonstrated impressive leadership. Now wearing the captain’s armband, he inspired his teammates both with his words and his actions. Coach Eric Ramsay highlighted this quality: “The way he spoke at halftime, the level of conviction, you felt something like this was coming, and we really needed it. I said after the Seattle game that he is a good leader. He is very vocal, very engaged, really proactive. And that’s before you get to what he gives us on the field. I think in every sense, he led the team tonight.”

With the victory, Minnesota’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup depend on the next group match, when Seattle Sounders FC will face Necaxa. Only the top two teams from each group advance, and Minnesota now watches anxiously, eyes shining with hope and gratitude for St. Clair’s performance.

And what a performance! There’s no underestimating the psychological impact of having a goalkeeper in such a state of grace. Every save by St. Clair was a blow to Necaxa’s morale, an impenetrable barrier that the attackers simply couldn’t overcome. His reflexes were cat-like, his hands seemed to magnetize the ball, and his presence in goal was like an impregnable fortress. It’s rare to see a player dominate a match so completely, but that night, Dayne St. Clair did just that.