MINNEAPOLIMEDIA SPORTS | Minnesota United Scores First, Then St. Louis Takes Over in 4-2 Loss

Tomás Chancalay gave the Loons an early advantage, but St. Louis answered with three first-half goals and extended one of Major League Soccer's hottest runs

ST. LOUIS, MO (September 13, 2026). Minnesota United had the start it wanted Saturday night.

It did not have the response it needed.

Tomás Chancalay gave Minnesota an early lead at Energizer Park, but St. Louis CITY SC answered with three first-half goals and went on to defeat the Loons 4-2.

Kelvin Yeboah scored Minnesota's other goal from the penalty spot.

The defeat came against one of Major League Soccer's hottest teams. St. Louis extended its league unbeaten run to 15 matches with the victory.

The lead disappeared quickly

Chancalay's opening goal gave Minnesota the opportunity to force St. Louis to chase the game.

Instead, the hosts took control.

Rafael Navarro and Carlo Holse were among the St. Louis attackers who turned the match around as Minnesota struggled to contain the hosts after taking the lead.

By halftime, Minnesota's advantage had become a two-goal deficit.

That first-half reversal ultimately determined the match.

Yeboah's penalty gave the Loons another goal, but Minnesota never recovered enough control to erase the damage.

A difficult opponent, but a familiar lesson

There is context for the loss.

St. Louis entered the match in exceptional form and has become one of the league's most difficult opponents during its unbeaten stretch.

But Minnesota's own match report acknowledged that lineup changes contributed to the Loons struggling to cope after their strong opening.

For Minnesota, that makes the defeat useful only if the club learns from the transition between its opening goal and St. Louis' response.

Scoring first on the road should create leverage.

Saturday, it created only a brief lead.

Minnesota United now leaves St. Louis knowing it was capable of hurting one of MLS' hottest teams.

It also leaves knowing St. Louis was considerably better at responding when the game changed.

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