Minnesota United: Tomas Chancalay’s two goal contributions lead to 2-0 win over Portland
Tomas Chancalay ’s resurgence is in full effect.
The Argentine midfielder scored one of Minnesota United’s two goals, and assisted on the other in a 2-0 win over Portland Timbers on Saturday at Allianz Field.
Chancalay was cast off from New England after last season, acquired by Minnesota in a cash trade for a paltry $100,000. The 27-year-old is back to showing why the Revolution were willing in 2023 to pay Racing Club in Argentina a $3.1 million transfer fee and make him a Designated Player.
Chancalay, who tore his ACL in 2024 and had six goal contributions in 2025, didn’t want to dwell Saturday on how things ended with the Revs.
“They told me that New England did not want me, but I am really happy here,” Chancalay said after scoring his first goal with the Loons and cradling a commemorative ball signed by teammates in the locker room. “The team put their confidence in me here in Minnesota. I’m happy to stay here and I want to help the team.”
Knowles has credited Chancalay’s leave-everything-on-the-field effort and it has paid off with a goal contribution in three straight MLS games. He had an assist apiece in the previous two wins against San Diego and L.A. Galaxy .
“We were just excited to get him,” head coach Cameron Knowles said. “You could see how motivated he was right from Day 1. You could see how committed he was right from Day 1. Prior to getting injured in the league, he had been doing really good stuff in MLS. He’s a high-ceiling guy.”
MNUFC (4-2-2, 14 points) improved to unbeaten in all 10 games against Portland (2-5-1, 7 points) in Minnesota since 2017. The Loons have won three straight league games for the first time since April 21 to May 4, 2024.
The Loons took the lead in the 16th minute on Chancalay’s first MLS goal since July. He had plenty of teammates to thank.
Joaquín Pereyra was threatening down the right side; Jefferson Diaz won the ball back and centered a pass to the top of the box; and Kelvin Yeboah ’s dummy run drew in Portland’s defense to give Chancalay space outside the 18-yard box. He nicely curled the shot into the corner of the net.
In the second half, Pereyra hit a long diagonal to Chancalay, who gently brought it down with a first touch and dished it for Kelvin Yeboah to tap in. It was Yeboah’s fifth goal of the season.
The increasing connection between Chancalay, Pereyra and Yeboah takes the tractor beam attention off of James Rodriguez . The Loons didn’t need the Colombian playmaker to come off the bench and provide a goal Saturday. He did sub on late in the second half but to little fanfare.
Yeboah said it was up to current players to understand Chancalay’s game to start the season; he didn’t have a goal contribution in the first five games.
“The more connections, the more we spoke to each other, we built a connection. … I know he likes to drift out wide compared to Joaquin. … He’s very good in one v. ones. He sees you without seeing you. He’s really good at that. It really worked out well for us.”
