Minnesota United captain Michael Boxall and Real Salt Lake defender Brayan Vera entangled on a corner kick and slammed into the grass late in Wednesday’s match at America First Field. Vera stayed down, holding his head after taking the brunt of the impact.

That was the opening salvo.

In an apparent retaliation a few minutes later, Vera spit at Boxall, who then confronted Vera and was issued a yellow card. Upon video review, referee Ricardo Montero ruled Vera committed a “spitting offense” and was sent off with a red card. The Loons and 10-men RSL then finished the final minutes of a scoreless draw in Sandy, Utah.

“I really feel for Boxy in that situation because that’s, I reckon, one of the worst things that can happen to you on a football pitch,” Loons head coach Eric Ramsay said postgame. “Pretty sour note to end the game on, unfortunately.”

The Loons (13-12-7, 46 points) clinched an MLS Cup Playoffs spot on Wednesday, but still have seeding to play for in the final two games. Eighth-seeded MNUFC will play seventh-seeded Vancouver (13-10-8, 47 points) on Saturday night.

As of now, MNUFC must play in British Columbia without Boxall. That yellow card booking put him at the accumulation max, meaning he currently needs to serve a one-game suspension.

The Loons are expected to submit video of the incident to MLS and ask for Boxall’s yellow card can be rescinded by the league’s disciplinary committee. These types of decisions, including whether Vera will serve a longer suspension, usually are delivered on Friday afternoons.

“I’m not too sure how that will work, but I’m sure if we’ve got a leg to stand on, which we certainly have and we’ve got the means to appeal, then we will certainly do so,” Ramsay said.

Pereyra subbed out

When Joaquin Pereyra was brought in from Atletico Tucuman in Argentina, Ramsay stressed the new midfielder would be asked to defend in Minnesota in a way he was not used in his native country.

Ramsay and Pereyra, one of three high-priced Designated Players, sat down prior to Wednesday’s game in Utah. “(I) gave him a real pat on the back about how he defended at Colorado and some of the big steps forward,” Ramsay said.

Yet Pereyra was subbed out at halftime on Wednesday. Halftime substitutions are often looked at as a drastic yank of an underperforming player or a concession that the initial game plan was not working, but Ramsay does it with some regularity, saving himself a substitution window. Post-matches, he so often defends the player coming off the field; he did it again Wednesday.

Ramsay said Pereyra’s removal was not based on performance, but said it was more of a tactical shift to remove a midfielder and bring on a forward, which was Tani Oluwaseyi, and better handle RSL.

“I wanted to change our shape,” Ramsay said. “I wanted us to have a very different look and feel. It was pretty much a toss-up between him and (Robin Lod coming off. Pereyra) had certainly done nothing to suggest he was the obvious choice. I am happy with where he is.”

Pereyra has one assist and no goals in his opening 328 minutes with MNUFC.

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