Minnesota United fell to a 1-2 defeat against Juárez in the Cup League Group Stage on 5th August. The visitors took the lead through Guilherme Castilho in the twenty-second minute before Tomás Chancalay equalised twelve minutes later. That evening session ended with Óscar Estupinan restoring Juárez's advantage in the thirty-eighth minute.
And here's the thing about those first forty minutes. Minnesota controlled the tempo but gave nothing away cleanly. They created one big chance while Juárez managed three. The hosts had forty-two shots accuracy to twenty-seven, yet the visitors took theirs. By then the match had shifted direction, and Minnesota couldn't find the rhythm again.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Minnesota held fifty-eight percent possession and launched 133 attacks against 58. They completed 424 passes to 295. But they only managed four shots on target with three off target, while Juárez had three on and six off. Three blocked shots sat against four for the hosts, and eight clearances compared to thirty-three from the visitors. Things came to a head when the final whistle blew.
Minnesotas recent form has been inconsistent. They drew 1-1 with San Diego on 2nd August after a goalless stalemate with Vancouver Whitecaps. Juárez arrived on a run of losses, having lost 5-1 to Pumas and 1-0 to Guadalajara Chivas. This result breaks their losing streak, though it does little for their group standing.
The goal difference remains tight in this group. Both teams have two yellow cards between them, with Anthony Markanich, Javier Murillo and Edgar Ayon booked. Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half, with Minnesota bringing on Duncan, Gene, Rodriguez, Castilho, Dieng, Estupinan, Torres Ramirez and Padelford. Juárez kept their heads while Minnesota's wheels came off.