Minnesota United saw off Mazatlan 3:1 in the League Cup group stage on Tuesday night, extending their unbeaten run to four matches after a goalless draw with Tigras UANL on Sunday. The hosts had lost 1:2 to Juarez on Friday and drew 1:1 with San Diego on Wednesday before that shutout, while Mazatlan came into the fixture after a heavy 0:4 defeat to Real Salt Lake.
By then the visitors had already shown they could score when they beat Vancouver Whitecaps 1:0 earlier in the week, though the match itself told a different story. Minnesota United got dragged out of position at times, but the clean-sheet run came to an end in the 59th minute when M. Gonzalez found the net. To be fair, the home side had been the more dangerous outfit up to that point.
And here's the thing about the second half — it was Pereyra who took over. The Argentine striker scored in the 75th minute to put the hosts ahead, then added two more in quick succession at 87 and 89 minutes. He was substituted at 72 minutes for Yeboah, which meant he had to come back on for the business end. The line has barely moved for Minnesota United this season, and this performance showed why.
Shots tell you only so much. The hosts registered 12 shots within the penalty area against six on target, while Mazatlan managed just three on target from seven attempts inside the box. Big chances created tells a clearer story: Minnesota United made six while the visitors created none. Possession sat at 55:45 in favour of the home side, though that statistic means little when the attacking third tells a different tale.
The result leaves Minnesota United four points clear in the group after three matches, while Mazatlan sit fifth with just one point from three games. The goal difference has shifted — the hosts now lead by three after their four goals, compared to the visitors' single strike. By then the match was decided, and the incident went to review at least once when the referee checked a potential handball before awarding the third goal.