Omanghana
Kelvin Yeboah scored a decisive first-half brace as Minnesota United FC came from behind to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 5-1 at PayPal Park.
The emphatic victory ended Minnesota’s nine-match winless run in the MLS regular season and marked the club’s first league win since May.
It was also the Loons’ highest-scoring performance of the 2026 campaign, with five unanswered goals overturning San Jose’s early advantage.
Timo Werner Gives San Jose Early Lead
The Earthquakes made a promising start and moved ahead from the penalty spot in the fourth minute.
Minnesota defender Jefferson Díaz was penalized for handling Timo Werner’s shot inside the area. Werner took responsibility for the resulting spot kick and placed his effort into the bottom-left corner.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender guessed correctly but could not prevent San Jose from taking a 1-0 lead.
Pereyra Responds With Spectacular Rabona
Minnesota required only six minutes to equalize.
Anthony Markanich found Joaquín Pereyra inside the San Jose penalty area in the 10th minute. Pereyra controlled the pass, turned and produced an audacious rabona finish that goalkeeper Angus Gunn touched but could not keep out.
The spectacular goal shifted momentum in Minnesota’s favour and set the stage for Yeboah’s intervention late in the first half.
Yeboah’s Quick Brace Transforms Match
Yeboah gave the visitors the lead in the 40th minute after an effective move involving Owen Gene and Kyle Duncan.
Gene carried the ball forward before releasing Duncan down the right flank. Duncan delivered the ball toward Yeboah near the edge of the penalty area, and the striker turned before driving a composed finish into the bottom-left corner.
Four minutes later, Yeboah struck again.
Gene combined with Pereyra in midfield before slipping a pass into the area. Yeboah calmly lifted the ball over Gunn to complete his brace and send Minnesota into halftime with a commanding 3-1 advantage.
The goals were Yeboah’s ninth and 10th of the season. His performance earned him the club’s Man of the Match award.
Caldeira Scores First MLS Goal
Minnesota continued to press aggressively after the interval and added a fourth goal in the 65th minute.
Marcus Caldeira capitalized on a San Jose mistake following a goal kick, stole possession and advanced into the penalty area before firing a right-footed shot past Gunn at the near post.
It was Caldeira’s first goal in Major League Soccer and his fourth goal contribution in as many matches.
González Completes Five-Goal Rout
Substitute Mauricio González completed the scoring in the 86th minute.
Pereyra delivered a corner into the penalty area, where Carlos Harvey redirected the ball toward González. The substitute applied the final touch with a header to make it 5-1.
Pereyra ended the contest with one goal and two assists, while Gene contributed to both of Yeboah’s strikes.
Callender also played an important role in the victory, making five saves to prevent the Earthquakes from mounting a second-half response.
Minnesota End Nine-Game Winless Run
The result extended Minnesota United’s regular-season unbeaten streak against San Jose to seven matches, comprising five victories and two draws.
It was the fourth time in the club’s MLS history that the Loons had scored five goals in a match and their first such performance since a 5-2 victory over LA Galaxy in October 2023.
Minnesota will next return to Allianz Field to host Orlando City on Saturday, August 29.
Source: Omanghana
