Hassani Dotson's goal in 90th minute sends Minnesota United to MLS playoffs

Minnesota United's 2-1 comeback victory over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday clinched the Loons a playoff appearance for the first time in their three MLS seasons.

They were taken there after halftime by an 11-year veteran for whom postseason play is habit and by a rookie who knows it not.

Four-time MLS All-Star Ozzie Alonso, acquired last winter from Seattle, delivered the first goal scored at Allianz Field back on April's opening day. On Wednesday, he scored his season's second goal on another volley plucked out of the air, this one a 70th-minute goal that started his team back from an early 1-0 deficit.

In the 90th minute, second-round draft pick Hassani Dotson scored the winner by showing both poise and patience. He celebrated with a running, two-kneed slide in a stadium that erupted with noise.

"I want them to be pleased, to be excited because they've worked hard for what they've achieved," Loons coach Adrian Heath said.

"But we want to go even further than that."

Alonso's Seattle team had never missed the playoffs during his 10 seasons there, and he vowed to Minnesota coach Adrian Heath when United acquired him that he wasn't about to miss out on them now.

"That's the first thing he said to me," Heath said.

Alonso and United delivered Wednesday by winning and moving back ahead of the Sounders into second place by a point.

"Means a lot," Alonso said. "When I came here, nobody thought we'd make the playoff and here we are. Very excited, very happy. From the beginning, we believed in this team, that we'd make the playoffs. And we did. Now we have to get going."

United's second-half goals wiped away one scored by hulking SLC center back Botond Barath that hit both of his arms and a foot off a corner kick in just the seventh minute.

"Football is not all about free-flowing and showing how good you are," Heath said.

"Sometimes, it's about rolling your sleeves up and having the desire to go get a result, by hook or by crook, however you get there. That's what we've done today."

Alonso's goal drew the Loons even. Dotson sent them into club history after he took Alonso's forward pass near the 18-yard box corner and with three touches made his way to the field's middle before he sent a left-footed shot off Barath's back and past outstretched SKC keeper Tim Melia.

"I'm not sure that was his best finish since I've been here," said Heath, who earlier this season called Dotson one of his team's best finishers. "But they all count."

Dotson took an extra touch this time because he tried a left-footed shot recently and Real Salt Lake blocked it.

When this one found the net, he ran from teammates and slid near the right corner flag.

"That's probably the second time I've done that and my knees are burning," said Dotson, who reckons he last did so in under-11 play.

His goal stood as the winner only because goalkeeper Vito Mannone kept United close with seven saves, two diving in succession in the 26th minute.

Defender Romain Metanire's sliding tackle saved a goal in the 74th minute, too, after Alonso tied the score.

"I said Sunday in Portland Vito saved what he should save," Heath said. "Tonight, he saved a couple that are saves that keep you in the game. That's why goalkeepers are so important."

Mannone called the victory a "historic moment for the club" and a "great achievement" as well as a "win we probably shouldn't win."

He talked about Allianz Field fans who chanted his name and about his mother, who died in December 2017, and his father, who died when Mannone was 16.

"I hope that song goes up to the sky because my mom and dad are there to listen," he said.

"They made many sacrifices for me and it's an emotional moment."