Here we were with Minnesota United lining up for their first-ever MLS Cup play-off match, against none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristian Pavon and their unpredictable Los Angeles Galaxy teammates. It was always going to be a night of individual quality and decisive moments.
The big problem for the Loons was that head coach Adrian Heath had decided to leave their one true match-winner sat on the bench, alongside their up-and-coming, eager centre-forward. He robbed his own team of that one spark they needed to decide a tight playoff match. Minnesota needed Darwin Quintero and Mason Toye, but instead, they sat on the bench.