Hassani Dotson inspires Minnesota United to draw with Nashville SC

Updated: May 16, 2023, 11:58 pm

Hassani Dotson's goal in the 71st minute gave Minnesota United a 1-1 draw against visiting Nashville SC on Saturday.

Play was halted in the 53rd minute due to a lightning strike in the area. The game was delayed for more than an hour before the two Western Conference rivals returned to the field.

Minnesota (0-0-2, 2 points) controlled most of the play following the restart, and the United's pressure was rewarded with Dotson's tying goal. Emanuel Reynoso directed a free kick to Luis Amarilla outside the box, and Amarilla sent a strong kick that took two deflections in front before glancing off the post. Dotson got to the ball first and tapped it over the goal line for his first goal of the season.

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The weather was an issue for much of the game; a cold and rainy evening made for slippery conditions on the field. Following the lightning delay, there was a sizeable amount of mud built up in Minnesota's goal box, hampering Nashville's efforts in front of the net in the second half.

C.J. Sapong scored in the fifth minute to put Nashville SC (1-0-1, 4 points) ahead 1-0. Dax McCarty sent a tremendous pass to the back post that found Hany Mukhtar. Without a clear angle himself on net, Mukhtar put a touch pass in front to Sapong for the finish.

Nashville had several scoring opportunities in the first half, though none of its best chances resulted in a shot on net. Amarilla, Franco Fragapane, and Brent Kallman all sent quality chances off-target, while Bakaye Dibassy deflected a shot off the post moments before halftime.

Dibassy's near-miss came just after a pair of close calls from Nashville's Randall Leal at the other end of the field. Leal hit a goal post of his own, then had another clear chance that sailed wide of the net.

Minnesota captain Wil Trapp played all 90 minutes in his first game of the season. Trapp missed the Loons' season opener due to a hip injury.