ST. PAUL, Minn. — Tyrese Spicer scored three minutes into second-half stoppage time and Orlando City salvaged a 3-3 draw with Minnesota United after blowing a two-goal lead Saturday night.
Orlando City is 7-11-4 with 25 points in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Minnesota United is 7-7-8 with 29 points in the Western Conference. Each club picked up a point in the razor-thin races to stay in playoff contention.
Spicer used assists from one of the newest Lions, international star Antoine Griezmann, and Iván Angulo to score his career-high sixth goal for the equalizer.
Daryl Dike scored in the 28th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead that stood through halftime. Dike’s first goal this season came in his first start and fourth appearance. It was the Lions’ only shot of the first half.
Dike, who returned to MLS from England side West Bromwich Albion this summer, collided with Minnesota defender Jefferson Diaz and Diaz hit Loons goalkeeper Drake Callender, but Dike stayed on the ball and scored from a tight angle.
Griezmann took a pass from Justin Ellis in the 64th minute and scored his fourth goal in his seventh MLS appearance for a 2-0 advantage.
Minnesota United got on the scoreboard to start a three-goal flurry in the 71st minute when Kelvin Yeboah and Kyle Duncan set up Marcus Caldeira for his second goal in his fifth appearance in the league. The Loons would score twice more before five minutes were up.
Defender Anthony Markanich scored his sixth goal three minutes later — with an assist from Joaquín Pereyra — to tie it 2-2.
Yeboah found the net for the 11th time just one minute after Markanich scored to give Minnesota United a 3-2 lead.
Drake Callender had two saves for Minnesota United who was hurt during the collision ahead of Dike’s goal Callender. He needed medical attention for several minutes as fans booed referee Allen Chapman over not stopping the match. Callender was taken off as a concussion substitute at halftime with backup Alec Smir going in. Callender entered concussion protocol, Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said.
Minnesota United was coming off a 5-1 road win over the San Jose Earthquakes and was on the verge of consecutive wins for the first time since April before Spicer’s goal spoiled the party. United still hasn’t won at home since April.
Maxime Crépeau saved five shots for Orlando City in its first trip to St. Paul since 2023.
Up next
Orlando City hosts San Diego FC on Saturday.
Minnesota is at the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
Andy Greder of the St. Paul Pioneer Press contributed to this report.
Tyrese Spicer (14) of Orlando City SC celebrates scoring the game-tying goal against Minnesota United FC during stoppage time in the second half at Allianz Field on Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Orlando and Minnesota played to a 3-3 draw. (David Berding/Getty Images)