SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Sacha Kljestan broke a scoreless tie with a penalty kick goal in the 83rd minute for the Galaxy, but Minnesota United came up with its own late goal to forge a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night.
Robin Lod scored the equalizer for United in the 87th minute when he connected on a sliding left-footed shot from the top of the center of the box off a crossing pass from D.J. Taylor. It was his team-best fifth goal of the season.
Kljestan’s goal came after a video replay showed that Minnesota defender Michael Boxall had deflected Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez’s header in the middle of the box with his left arm. Kljestan then fired a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net.
Jonathan Bond had seven saves for the Galaxy (6-4-2, 20 points), who were outshot 17-12 including 8-4 in shots on goal.
Dayne St. Clair finished with three saves for Minnesota (4-5-3, 15 points), which had a three-match losing streak snapped.
Minnesota, trying to bounce back from a 3-1 loss at Seattle on Sunday, outshot the Galaxy 12-2 in a scoreless first half and had a 4-1 edge in shots on goal.
Both teams had excellent scoring chances in the first five minutes.
Minnesota defender Bakaye Dibassy flicked a header after an Emanuel Reynoso corner kick just over the crossbar by the near post in the fourth minute.
Just a minute later, the Galaxy’s Rayan Raveloson had a straight-on, right-footed shot from inside the box that St. Clair deflected over the crossbar with both hands.
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Bond also stopped a Taylor header in the 19th minute off a Franco Fragapane cross and came up with a big save on a Lod left-footed attempt from the center of the box in the 37th minute.
“He made some huge saves. We haven’t had to rely on him this year the way we did tonight. He kept us around and gave us a chance,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I still felt like defensively we needed to manage some situations better.”
United also had two other good scoring chances in the half, but Bongokuhle Hlongwane twice fired just wide of the net on right-footed tries.