Loons take 1-0 lead in MLS Cup first round with victory over Real Salt Lake

It didn’t take a genius to predict that Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake would take Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round series to penalty kicks — not after the teams had drawn all four of their last four matches in the past two seasons.

It also didn’t take a genius to predict that Dayne St. Clair would come out on the winning side of the shootout, given his sterling record against penalties in his career.

Justen Glad and Braian Ojeda both airmailed their penalties over the goal in the penalty shootout, with Ojeda hitting the crossbar, giving the Loons a 5-4 victory in the shootout, following a scoreless 90 minutes.

“When one guy misses, and with my record, I think they’re probably thinking in their head, ‘Well, he’s due for a save on this next one, so I’ve got to put the ball in the top corner,’ ” said St. Clair. “Today, the crossbar was a good friend of mine, so hopefully me and him continue to be in a good relationship.”

All week, Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay stressed to his team that the goal of the team’s trip to Real Salt Lake was simple: Avoid a return trip for Game 3. It took Minnesota keeping another clean sheet in Utah, and a nerve-racking set of penalties, but now the Loons can clinch the series with a win at home on Saturday.

Whatever the result of the shootout, the goalkeepers were the heroes for both sides. St. Clair and RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath traded astonishing saves throughout the second half.

The first half contained perhaps only one good chance for both teams combined, but in the second half, the game opened up. Robin Lod created a pair of chances in the first five minutes of the second half, but the Loons couldn’t convert either.

First, Lod stole a pass, beat a defender, and got Kelvin Yeboah open for a shot in the penalty area that flew straight at keeper MacMath. Moments later, Lod fed Carlos Harvey in behind the defense on the right, but while Harvey’s chip beat MacMath, it bounced wide of the far post of the goal.