Minnesota United returned to St. Paul for the home opener Saturday and it looked like they were going to come back down to Earth after being the only MLS club to win on the road last week.

The reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew were giving the Loons a mild reality check with a 1-0 lead the first game at Allianz Field this season.

Then Tani Oluwaseyi scored an equalizer in the 95th minute for a 1-1 draw. It became the last kick of the match.

Without four starters, MNUFC (1-0-1) started strong for a second straight game, building on what they did in a 2-1 win at Austin FC last weekend.

While the Loons didn’t convert, Columbus striker Cucho Hernandez did. The MLS Cup MVP was given too much space at the top of the 18-yard box and beat goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

Oluwaseyi picked a great time for his first MLS goal. He was a star on loan with 16 goals for San Antonio FC in the USL Championship last season.

The Loons best scoring chance in the second half came from substitute Loic Mesanvi on a rebound in the 79th minute, but Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte denied the Lakeville native’s chance.

Former Loons striker Christian Ramirez subbed in for Columbus at halftime. Ramirez received a warm welcome back after becoming a legend with 74 goals scored for MNUFC from 2014 until he was traded away in 2018.

St. Clair was huge in the scoreless first half with four saves as Columbus posted an expected goals of 1.4.

St. Clair made a few point-blank saves, two in which he covered up misplays by his fullbacks. In the 34th minute, D.J. Taylor allowed Cucho Hernandez to get in behind, but St. Clair cut down the angle for a save. In the 40th minute, Joseph Rosales turned the ball over, but Max Arfsten’s attempt was stifled by St. Clair.

The Loons’ high press was successful in the opening half hour, with Teemu Pukki having MNUFC’s one shot on goal in the eight minute. The Loons had an xG of 0.5 in the opening 45 minutes.

The Loons were forced into two changes from their 2-1 win at Austin FC last Saturday. With Robin Lod and Franco Fragapane suffering injuries in Texas, Caden Clark and Alejandro Bran made their first starts for MNUFC.

Clark, of Medina, estimated he would have roughly 40 familuy and friends in attendance Saturday. Clark assisted on Bran’s eventual game-winner last weekend.

Clark exited in the 60th minute for Mesanvi, and Pukki stepped off for Tani Oluwaseyi.

Briefly

MNUFC2 is scheduled to play in U.S. Open Cup first round versus Chicago House in Elmhurst, Ill., at 7 p.m. March 20, but the Loons have an international friendly planned with Irish club St. Patrick’s Athletic at same time in St. Paul. And a handful of Loons players will be away for international duty at that time. … MNUFC2 winger Loic Mesanvi of Lakeville signed a short-term loan to join MNUFC on Saturday. Mesanvi, who played 13 minutes in the season opener, has now exhausted both MLS call-ups this season. The 20-year-old can still be called up for two non-MLS competitions. … MNUFC is still working with Spanish club Villarreal to determine first round pick Hugo Bacharach’s training compensation. The center back has signed a contract with the MLS club, but it has yet to be announced.