Loons surge into MLS Cup Playoffs with 4-1 blowout win over St. Louis

Minnesota United often enters regular-season finales with its MLS Cup Playoffs lives on the line. Hand wringing, fingernail biting and scoreboard watching are common acts for Loons supporters come Decision Day.

But on Saturday, the Loons, who had clinched a spot two weeks ago with two games to play, were only jockeying for a better seed.

The Loons did their part with a three-goal outburst in the second half for a 4-1 win over St. Louis City at Allianz Field. MNUFC moved up one spot Saturday, gaining the sixth seed and will play third seed Real Salt Lake in a MLS Cup Playoffs best-of-three, first-round series starting next week.

MNUFC (15-12-7, 52 points) has won six of its last eight, including two over St. Louis (8-13-13).

“I stand here really optimistic going into the playoffs, knowing that we are the — or one of the in-form teams — going into (the playoffs),” head coach Eric Ramsay said postgame.

The Loons took a 1-0 lead with Kelvin Yeboah feeding his first MLS assist to Robin Lod for a slotted-home finish past Roman Burki. That connection was between two MLS award nominees — Yeboah for newcomer of the year and Lod for comeback player of the year.

Loons head coach Eric Ramsay made a triple substitution, bringing in Sang Bin Jeong, Franco Fragapane and Tani Oluwaseyi in the 69th minute. That trio combined for Jeong’s goal in the 72nd minute.

“Don’t think that will happen often,” Ramsay said about the immediate scoring dividends. “It’s obviously not in your head as you make that triple change. I was thinking energy and pressing, not necessarily the neat combination that you saw between the three of them.”

The two-goal lead didn’t last as Marcel Hartel scored in the 75th, but Henry Kessler’s own goal brought the two-goal lead back in the 78th.

The Hartel goal snapped the Loons’ shutout streak at 480 minutes across five matches.

Jeong added his second goal in the 84th minute. It was his first brace since May.

Goodbyes

In a classy — but also unorthodox — move, the Loons honored winger Franco Fragapane and goalkeeper Clint Irwin before Saturday’s game at Allianz Field. The two veterans will not be back with the club for the 2025 season; it’s uncommon for teams to announce roster decisions before the year ends.

It was a nice doff of cap from the club but also odd given the Loons season will continue in the MLS Cup Playoffs next week.

Fragapane, who has played in 111 matches with MNUFC, has been a contributor off the bench this season, including Saturday.

The Loons also had a pregame celebration for Zarek Valentin, who announced he is retiring at the end of the season. The 14-year veteran is out with a torn Achilles tendon.