ICYMI: Rizvanovich, Bran, Jackson, and García shine in weekend of former Loon successes

It was a productive weekend for several former Minnesota United players across the globe, with standout performances ranging from clinical assists in Costa Rica to dominant goalkeeping displays in the USL Championship. While some faced tough results on the road, the “Once a Loon” contingent made their presence felt through goal contributions and high-impact defensive shifts.

Leading the pack this week was Kayne Rizvanovich, who put in a Man of the Match caliber performance for Brooklyn. The young goalkeeper was impenetrable in net, logging a weekend-high 7.7 Fotmob rating while securing a clean sheet to guide his side to a narrow victory. He wasn’t the only one celebrating a productive shift; Alejandro Bran and Aziel Jackson both proved to be creative engines for their respective clubs, each tallying a crucial assist to help power their teams to multi-goal wins.

Meanwhile, Mender García continued his reliable form from the spot, finding the back of the net in South Korea to help his side salvage a hard-earned draw. From stellar defensive anchors like Francisco Calvo to late-game cameos across Europe, here is how your favorite former Loons fared over the weekend slate.

Friday, March 6

  • Wessel Speel (Shelbourne 2, St. Patrick’s Athletic 3): Speel started in net and played the full 90 minutes for Shelbourne in their Friday afternoon League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Tolka Park. Unfortunately, it was a tough outing for the home side, as St. Patrick’s Athletic managed to edge out a thrilling 3-2 victory. Speel logged a 5.5 Fotmob match rating in the high-scoring affair.
  • Danny Cruz, Sam Gleadle, and Amadou Niang (Lexington SC 1, Louisville City 2): Head coach Danny Cruz and Louisville City officially kicked off their 2026 USL Championship campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory on the road against in-state rivals Lexington SC. After falling behind to an early 16th-minute strike, Cruz made crucial second-half tactical adjustments that paid off immediately, with substitutes Mukwelle Akale and Aiden McFadden both finding the back of the net to secure all three points. Former Loons Sam Gleadle and Amadou Niang did not feature in the season opener.

Saturday, March 7

  • Victor Eriksson (Hammarby FF 7, Osters IF 0): Eriksson started and played the full 90 minutes on the backline for Hammarby FF, helping his squad cruise to a dominant 7-0 blowout victory over Osters IF in Svenska Cupen group stage action.
  • Adrien Hunou (Estac Troyes 2, Clermont Foot 1): Hunou began the match on the bench for Clermont Foot but made a late cameo, subbing in at the 88th minute. Unfortunately, his squad couldn’t find a late equalizer and fell 2-1 on the road in Ligue 2 play.
  • Sam Nicholson (Dundee 2, Motherwell 1): Nicholson made a late appearance for Motherwell, subbing into the midfield in the 85th minute. He wasn’t able to help his side complete a comeback as they suffered a tough 2-1 defeat in the Scottish Premiership.
  • Kervin Arriaga (Levante 1, Girona 1): Arriaga subbed into the midfield in the 66th minute for Levante. He helped his side secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Girona in La Liga action, holding down the center of the pitch for the final half-hour.
  • Francisco Calvo (Al-Ettifaq 1, Al Shabab 1): Calvo put in an absolute shift on the backline for Al-Ettifaq. He started and played the full 90 minutes, anchoring the defense and logging a stellar 7.7 Fotmob rating in a 1-1 draw against Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League.
  • Caden Clark and Dayne St. Clair (D.C. United 1, Inter Miami CF 2): St. Clair and Inter Miami managed to secure a tight road victory over Clark and D.C. United. St. Clair started in net, played the full 90 minutes, and picked up a late yellow card in the 87th minute while securing the win. Clark started the match on the bench for D.C. United but subbed in at the 82nd minute to push for a late equalizer that ultimately fell short.
  • Alan Benítez (Libertad Asuncion 1, Sportivo Luqueno 1): Benítez started and played the full 90 minutes for Libertad in the Paraguayan Primera Division. The veteran defender put in a solid performance, earning a 7.1 Fotmob rating as his squad played to a 1-1 draw.
  • James Musa (Naples 2, Fort Wayne 0): Musa started and played 82 minutes for Fort Wayne in their USL League One season opener against FC Naples. He earned a 6.1 Fotmob rating before being subbed off late in the match due to an injury in the 2-0 defeat.
  • Robin Lod (Columbus Crew 0, Chicago Fire 0): Lod came off the bench for the Chicago Fire, subbing into the match in the 55th minute. He logged a 6.4 Fotmob rating as he helped his squad grind out a gritty, scoreless draw on the road against the reigning champions.
  • Christian Ramirez, Joseph Rosales, and Tyler Miller (Charlotte FC 3, Austin FC 1): Charlotte FC defended their home turf to secure a 3-1 victory over an Austin FC squad that went down to ten men early. Rosales started in the midfield for Austin, playing 74 minutes and earning a 6.4 Fotmob rating. Ramirez subbed in immediately after for the final 15 minutes, logging a 6.1 rating. Goalkeeper Tyler Miller did not feature for Charlotte in the win.
  • Britton Fischer (Sporting JAX 0, Hartford Athletic 3): Fischer started and played the full 90 minutes for Hartford Athletic, logging a 7.5 rating on Fotmob in a 3-0 shutout victory over Sporting JAX.
  • Samuel Shashoua (Birmingham Legion 0, Tampa Bay Rowdies 1): Shashoua started for Birmingham Legion and played the full 90 minutes, finishing the match with a 6.6 Fotmob rating in a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
  • Sang-bin Jeong and Hassani Dotson (St. Louis City 0, Seattle Sounders 1): Dotson started for the Seattle Sounders and played the full 90 minutes, picking up a yellow card in the 74th minute and logging a 6.8 rating on Fotmob as Seattle secured a 1-0 win. Sang-bin made a late appearance for St. Louis City, subbing into the match in the 88th minute.
  • Curt Calov (San Antonio 2, Phoenix Rising 1): Calov entered the match as a substitute in the 69th minute for San Antonio, logging a 6.7 rating on Fotmob in a 2-1 victory over Phoenix Rising.
  • Alejandro Bran (San Carlos 0, LD Alajuelense 2): Bran started for LD Alajuelense and played 71 minutes, providing an assist in the 62nd minute to help secure a 2-0 win over San Carlos.
  • Kevin Partida and Rory O’Driscoll (Orange County SC 1, Las Vegas Lights 1): Partida subbed in at the 57th minute for Orange County SC and logged a 6.4 rating on Fotmob in a 1-1 draw. O’Driscoll did not feature for Las Vegas Lights in the match.
  • Aziel Jackson, Eric Miller, and Adrian Zendejas (Portland Timbers 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 4): Jackson started for the Vancouver Whitecaps, playing 68 minutes and delivering an assist in the 64th minute while earning a 7.5 rating on Fotmob in a dominant 4-1 win. Miller for the Timbers and Zendejas for the Whitecaps did not play.
  • Mender García (Seongnam FC 2, Cheongju 2): García started the match for Cheongju and played the full 90 minutes, scoring a goal off a penalty kick in the 54th minute during a 2-2 draw with Seongnam FC.

Sunday, March 8

  • Mikael Marques (Djurgardens IF 2, IF Brommapojkarna 0): Marques came off the bench for Djurgardens IF, subbing into the match in the 70th minute to help close out a 2-0 win over IF Brommapojkarna.
  • Matúš Kmeť (Dunajska Streda 2, Podbrezová 1): Kmeť started for Dunajska Streda and played 68 minutes, earning a solid 7.3 rating on Fotmob in a 2-1 victory over Podbrezová.
  • Moses Nyeman (Columbus Crew 2 0, New York City II 0): Nyeman started for Columbus Crew 2 and played 62 minutes, logging a 7.2 rating on Fotmob in a scoreless 0-0 draw against New York City II.
  • Kayne Rizvanovich, Eric Dick, Loïc Mesanvi, and Sean McAuley (Brooklyn 1, Indy Eleven 0): Rizvanovich started in net for Brooklyn and played the full 90 minutes, recording a clean sheet and logging a stellar 7.9 rating on Fotmob in a 1-0 win. On the other side, Dick started and played the full 90 minutes for Indy Eleven, giving up the lone goal in the 26th minute on a penalty shot and finishing with a 6.5 rating. Mesanvi subbed in for Indy Eleven at the 72nd minute, logging a 6.4 on Fotmob. Indy Eleven squad was managed by head coach and fellow former Loon Sean McAuley. Blake did not play.
  • Raheem Edwards (FC Cincinnati 0, Toronto FC 1): Edwards started for Toronto FC and played 65 minutes, logging a strong 7.6 rating on Fotmob in a 1-0 road victory against FC Cincinnati.
  • Cameron Dunbar and Patrick Weah (Atlanta United 2 2, Carolina Core 1): Dunbar started for Atlanta United 2 and played 70 minutes, finishing the match with a 7.0 rating on Fotmob in a 2-1 win over Carolina Core. Weah did not feature.
  • Alexis Fariña (Rubio NU 0, 2 de Mayo 1): Fariña subbed in at halftime for 2 de Mayo, providing an assist in the 72nd minute and logging a 7.2 rating on Fotmob in a 1-0 victory over Rubio NU.