Minnesota United has left Allianz Field too many times this season with a draw that felt like a loss.
On Saturday against New England, the Loons got one back in a big way with another 1-1 home draw.
This time, second-half substitute Franco Fragapane's tying goal — assisted by goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in his wrong end of the field — on the game's final kick left them both delirious and disappointed.
"A crazy, crazy ending," said Loons midfielder Jan Gregus, who was in the middle of it all. "It feels amazing."
Delirious because it came in the third and final minute of second-half stoppage time. Disappointed, St. Clair said, because, "when we look at the chances and domination we had over the game, we'll be disappointed we didn't get three points."
The Loons remain seventh in the Western Conference and are now 3-2-8 at home and 6-6-2 on the road. Only Orlando has won more home games (seven) and only Real Salt Lake has won as many.
"Our home form has not been good enough this year," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "But you're heard me say never turn away a good point. Today was our reward."
Fragapane swept the ball from the opposite side with his right foot and immediately leapt over a barrier and climbed seven rows into the Wonderwall, as if he were at Lambeau Field.
Would Heath have done so, too, if he had been closer?
"Probably," Heath said. "But it was what we deserve. It feels [like three points] because it comes so late, but it'd have been a travesty if we took nothing from the game. I thought our players were magnificent."
It was Fragapane's first goal since April 25 in a U.S. Open Cup game in Detroit — and his first assisted so close by his goalkeeper.
"Truthfully, it was the first time," Fragapane said in Spanish through a team interpreter. "The truth is, it was a game we deserved to win. We weren't able to get the win. But at the end we were able to get the goal and tied."
Actually, it was the second time, and St. Clair's second MLS assist.
Oddly, the other one was last year against Vancouver, when he again assisted Fragapane on a goal.
"I might have to start asking Adrian for some assist bonuses next," St. Clair said. "I'm happy with both, but I think this is definitely one I will remember."
That one last season was a long ball played over the defense to Fragapane.
"He has been working on that," Heath said slyly about St. Clair. "We've been working in training all week on that, with Dayne setting Fraga up in the last minute.
"That's a joke, by the way."
The Loons surrendered New England playmaking midfielder Carles Gil the go-ahead goal in the 38th minute created by a cross from his brother Nacho.
Neither team scored again until Fragapane did on a night leading goal scorer Bongokuhle Hlongwane returned and started after three games away injured.
The Loons had more than a few chances, particularly in a second half when they desperately pushed players forward and applied building pressure as the clock ticked away.
"As you get more desperate, you take more chances," Heath said.
With time almost out and Loons star Emanuel Reynoso preparing to take a corner kick, St. Clair looked over to Heath on the sideline. He received the sign to push forward, all the way inside the Revs' 18-yard box.
Those final seconds were as much a game of pinball as anything else.
Reynoso's kick deflected off players from both teams trying to head the ball. It went to veteran Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, whose quick shot hit off an opponent's face. It bounced away, hitting other players on its way toward St. Clair just as he arrived from the field's other end.
He whiffed on a chance to score a goal, but played the ball left with Fragapane on the other side of the 18-yard box. He scored into an open goal.
"Anyone who knows me knows I was going to definitely shoot it," St. Clair said. "But it skipped over my foot. I heard Hassani (Dotson) calling for the layoff, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Fraga. I trust him in those areas."
Heath was asked if he had ever seen a keeper get an assist from inside the other team's 18-yard box.
"I've seen keepers score before, but not one of mine," he said.
St. Clair said he hasn't scored in his career — prep, college or pro.
"I have not yet," he said. "Yet. Key on yet."
Note: Bruce Arena quit as coach of the New England Revolution on Saturday night, six weeks after he was placed on administrative leave by Major League Soccer for what it said were ''allegations that he made insensitive and inappropriate remarks.''
