Soccer Recap 9: Loons Win (Feat. Tani Oluwaseyi), Sporting Kansas City Next, and A Look Around MLS
Minnesota Soccer Spot
Monday, April 22nd
Loons Win (Feat. Tani Oluwaseyi), Sporting Kansas City Next, and A Look Around MLS
*Disclaimer: My takes are not thoughtful, and they are NOT based in knowledge.*
Loons Win In The Queen City:
The road warriors do it again! After a three-match winless streak, Minnesota United's dominant performance gave them a warranted three points in Sunday's cross-conference match. With goals from Dotson, Lod, and Oluwaseyi, the Loons are flying high, jumping to fifth in the Western Conference with a game at hand.
This week saw a different lineup than fans were expecting. Teemu Pukki, who hasn't scored since the Loons' victory in Orlando, moved to the bench. Tani Oluwaseyi took his place, making his first MLS start. With the absence of Sang Bin (international duty), Robin Lod took the right-winger position with Fragapane as his counterpart. As far as the midfield is concerned, mainstays Wil Trapp and Hassani Dotson kept their consistent positions. Kervin Arriaga slid into the space Lod vacated, making his first start of 2024. The backline saw the return of Joseph Rosales and Devin Padelford, who stepped in for Miguel Tapias. (I'm assuming he's still not match fit).
It took the Loons a bit to grow into the match. For the first twenty minutes struggled to maintain control and play their game. Other than a well-saved chance from Tani Oluwaseyi, the Loons were unable to generate hardly any possession. Charlotte was doing a decent job shutting down any opportunities for the Loons. In the twenty-fourth minute, center back Bill Tuiloma's header was saved by Dayne St. Clair.
After that save, the game took a turn for the better. In the thirty-first minute, the Loons found the go-ahead goal in transition. A split ball from Franco Fragapane finds the feet of Robin Lod. Lod takes his space on the left side, lofting a perfectly weighted ball to Tani Oluwaseyi. Oluwaseyi lets the ball bounce, striking it first-time for a beautiful volleyed finish. There's nothing Kahlina can do, and Minnesota is up 1-0.
The second half was a Minnesota masterclass. Just a few minutes into the second half, the Loons found the back of the net for the second time. A well-crafted switch of the field from Kervin Arriaga found the feet of Joseph Rosales. Rosales spots the overlap of Franco Fragapane, who squares it to Lod, who makes no mistake. Kahlina got a hand to it, but it's not enough, and the Loons are up 2-0. In the fifty-third minute, a flawlessly taken corner from Robin Lod finds the head of Hassani Dotson, who drills it home for Minnesota United's third goal on the afternoon. Charlotte's defense was furious, and the fans went silent.
The rest of the match saw a slew of half-hearted attempts from Charlotte. Every set-piece was taken poorly, and while ideas were solid, execution was poor in the final third for the home team. The Loons kept the attack going, generating more chances. Just a minute after Dotson's goal, Tani Oluwaseyi hit the post in what should've been a 4-0 lead. In the sixty-ninth minute, a well-worked play from Pukki forces Kahlina into a smart save. If not for the Charolette goalkeeper, DJ Taylor would've had a simple tap-in. The Loons could've easily won this match 5-0 or 6-0. Overall, it was a frustrating day for Charlotte and a statement win for Minnesota United.
Standout Players:
Obviously, the man of the match deserves a shoutout. The absence of Reynoso is forcing other players to step up, and Robin Lod has been that guy. He would've been that guy either way, but in light of Rey-No-Show, it's good to see him stepping up. I'm not sure if this is a hot take, but Robin Lod is our most important player at this point. Not only because of his skill and production on the field but his versatility as well. He showcased all of those assets on Sunday and continues to prove the haters wrong.
Another player who stood out to me during this match was Kervin Arriaga. The Honduran, who has been dealing with injuries off and on throughout his Minnesota United career, has struggled to get into the starting lineup this season. His performance today showed how important he can be. Standing 6'3", he is a threat on set pieces and aerial duels. His switch balls, one of which led to a goal, were solid in providing Minnesota United an edge in the attack. He has definitely made a case for himself in starting conversations.
I'd also like to give a shoutout to Hassani Dotson. Obviously, he impacted the game significantly with his goal, but I also feel he controlled to midfield (with the help of Trapp of course). Dotson has had some shaky moments in the midfield, but he proved what he's capable of this past Sunday. I hope we continue to see more of that from him.
Sporting Kansas City Next:
Minnesota United will take on Sporting Kansas City at Allianz Field this coming Saturday, and boy will they be searching for all three points. Given Kansas City's form, this is a match Minnesota will look to take advantage of.
The collapse of Sporting Kansas City needs to be studied by scientists. It's actually insane. The collapse started about a month ago when KC took on L.A. Galaxy at home. Sporting was sitting with a comfortable 2-0 lead over the visitors. This match ended with a Galaxy 3-2 win, the home team having conceded three goals in eight minutes. The collapse continued two weeks later against the Portland Timbers, also in Kansas City. The home team had an almost luxurious 3-0 lead at the end of the first half. At the beginning of the second half, Kansas City had the opportunity to make it 4-0, but a missed penalty kick (one of the worst I've ever seen) shifted the momentum. The match ended up being a 3-3 tie with the Timbers making the comeback. A similar story happened against St. Louis City this past weekend. Sporting Kansas City came from behind (2-1 in favor of St. Louis) to make it 3-2. In stoppage time, a poor giveaway from Daniel Salloi leads to the tieing goal for St. Louis City.
With all of that being said, Minnesota United would like to keep Sporting Kansas City in freefall, while the visitors will look to break the curse against their manufactured rival.
Here's how I expect both teams to line up:
Unfortunately, it looks like Sang Bin went down injured during international duty. There hasn't been much information about it, but I think it's safe to assume he won't be starting this Saturday. I think the lineup will mirror this past weekend's lineup. I don't think we'll see Tapias start, but I'd like to see him come off the bench (assuming we're doing well). As far as Sporting Kansas City is concerned, their lineup has been identical in the last two matches. With the return of Jonny Russell, it's difficult to say whether or not he will get the start. I predict he will come off the bench just as he did against St. Louis City.
The Loons will take on Sporting Kansas City this Saturday, April 27th at 7:30 CT.
A Look Around MLS
Unfortunately, there weren't many bangers this past weekend, but it was an eventful weekend. Here are some highlights:
Montreal VS Orlando City:
What a match this was. I didn't get a chance to watch this match in its entirety, but I was able to watch the highlights. One note-worthy moment was Mason Toye's goal in the sixteenth minute. Loons fans will be happy to see this. After Montreal scored the go-ahead goal in the eighty-eightth minute, they assumed they'd be walking away with all three points. Angulo would prove them wrong, scoring a ninety-second-minute equalizer. The match ended 2-2.
Inter Miami VS Nashville:
Once again, this match was another dominant Messi performance. With two goals and one assist, Messi continues to prove that he's a chef on the field (He cooks). Nashville did have their fair share of chances, but in the end, Miami will do what Miami does best: Give the ball to Messi and let him do his thing. And usually, that is enough.
Atlanta VS Cincinati:
The return of Miles Robinson turned out to be worth the trip home for him and his teammates at FC Cincinnati. Almada's class goal may have put a damper on things for the visitors initially, but they fought back. Luciano Acosta, arguably the best ten in the league besides Messi, provided his team with a goal and assist, playing a big role in securing all three points for the reigning Supporters Shield winners.
NYCFC VS D.C. United:
Rest in peace D.C. United, you would've loved man-marking. NYCFC provided a dominant performance at home against the league's wooden spoon contenders (Sorry D.C. fans. I can't go more than a few paragraphs without being disrespectful. It's who I am). This game could've easily been four or five in favor of New York if not for the blatantly missed chances and a couple of decent saves from Bono. It's a good win for NYCFC.
Toronto VS New England:
If anyone shows Gregg Berhalter these highlights of Sean Johnson, I swear to God... This was a Sean Johnson masterclass. One note-worthy moment from this match was Ravas' penalty save against Bernadeschi in the seventy-sixth minute. Bernadeschi, who loves to hit his vape as a form of protest (????), has been lacking confidence this season. He currently sits with no goals, and New England's keeper, who otherwise struggled throughout the match, took advantage. This game ended 1-0 in favor of Toronto.
He's ready
NEVER FORGET
Columbus Crew VS Portland Timbers:
This is one of the better cross-conference rivalries, and you cannot tell me otherwise. In this wild 2-2, we saw Moreno score against Columbus once again, Mora make a comeback, and one of the best goals of the year so far from Moreira. Cucho was inches away from tying the match with a freekick in the final second, but ultimately, Portland would escape Columbus by the skin of their teeth with a well-deserved point on the road.
Houston VS Austin:
Austin barely got away with this one. Houston will feel they should've walked away with all three points at home. Everyone will be hyping up Sean Johnson for his performance with Toronto, but Brad Stuver deserves a huge shoutout for keeping Austin in this game. Rigoni was able to find the winning goal, and Austin would travel back home with all three points.
Chicago Fire VS RSL:
As an honorary Chicago Fire fan, this is painful. It was a painful highlight reel. The Chicago Fire are back to who they once were. Just watch the highlights. I don't even need to get into it. 4-0 in favor of the visitors.
Colorado Rapids VS FC Dallas:
This game proved that, once again, putting Calvin Harris on my bench in MLS fantasy was the right move. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made as a human being. Morally, ethically, and spiritually, I thank Calvin Harris every day for doing God's work and bringing me home the fantasy points I desperately crave. This game saw a crazy own goal and a goal from Calvin Harris himself. It seemed as though Dallas had the chance to get back into the match with Musa's eighty-seventh-minute goal, but it would be mere consolation. The Rapids won 2-1.
Seattle Sounders VS Vancouver:
Seeing the downfall of Seattle and Sporting Kansas City at the same time is like playing Jenga, thinking moving that tricky piece would cause you to lose, pulling off the move, and watching the next guy knock it over. What a rush. Initially, when I saw that Jackson Ragen foul, in no way shape or form was that a red card. I guess I was blind because Ragen's studs were alive and well, and I didn't even notice until watching the highlights again hours later. Thank God I did, because I would've looked stupid arguing that Ragen shouldn't have been sent off. Christian Roldan's red was even worse. That red is worthy of a multiple-game suspension. This game showcased the worst sides of Seattle's defense. Watching Seattle's defense literally give the opposing team the ball is like when you date a Hinge guy, and he slowly reveals to you over time why he's been on the app for four years. It's painful, but almost comical. This game ended 2-0 in favor of Vancouver, who are flying right now.
LAFC VS New York Red Bulls:
I was able to catch the second half of this one. First of all, what is Segura doing on that own goal? I could've done that. I get it happens, but the way he headed it into his own net was wild. The second half was even wilder: A penalty call against the Red Bulls resulted in Bouanga tying it up. (I'm going to say what everyone is thinking: Bouanga needs to be stopped. I'm not talking about how good he is. He's good, and we cannot deny that. I'm sick of these soft fouls and foul calls that weren't even fouls going his way. I need someone to time how much of the game he spends on the ground). The New York Red Bulls found a go-ahead goal in the eighty-first minute when Emil Forsberg (MLS' favorite absent father) found the back of the net on a set piece. LAFC would strike again through Bouanga in the ninety-fifth minute. The Red Bulls would come within inches of stealing all three points at the last kick, but the crossbar would save LAFC and preserve the 2-2 draw.
Imagine ghosting your family to play for a team in NEW JERSEY.
L.A Galaxy VS San Jose:
THIS GAME WAS ACTUALLY INSANE. I say this about every MLS game but trust me, this one's the one to beat. L.A. Galaxy provided a dominant performance in the first half leading San Jose 3-0 for the majority of it. San Jose found the back of the net about ten minutes before halftime, making it a little more interesting. Puig would respond in the fifty-sixth minute, putting the Galaxy up 4-1. Here's where things start to get interesting: Almost out of nothing, San Jose was able to find a second. Not long after that, a penalty is called against the Galaxy, and a red card is shown to Zavaleta, who had entered the field just nine minutes earlier. Jeremy Ebobisse converts the penalty kick making it 4-3. From then on, L.A. was on their heels. John McCarthy had to come up big a few times to keep his team in it. When all was said and done, San Jose was unable to equalize, and the Galaxy would take all three points.
GOALS FROM THIS WEEK:
Thiago Almada Goal: He's class
Moreira BANGER: One of the best goals of the year so far
St. Louis City BANGER: Let Pompeu cook
That's all for this week!
Loons Win In The Queen City:
Sporting Kansas City Next:
A Look Around MLS
Montreal VS Orlando City:
What a match this was. I didn't get a chance to watch this match in its entirety, but I was able to watch the highlights. One note-worthy moment was Mason Toye's goal in the sixteenth minute. Loons fans will be happy to see this. After Montreal scored the go-ahead goal in the eighty-eightth minute, they assumed they'd be walking away with all three points. Angulo would prove them wrong, scoring a ninety-second-minute equalizer. The match ended 2-2.
Inter Miami VS Nashville:
Once again, this match was another dominant Messi performance. With two goals and one assist, Messi continues to prove that he's a chef on the field (He cooks). Nashville did have their fair share of chances, but in the end, Miami will do what Miami does best: Give the ball to Messi and let him do his thing. And usually, that is enough.
Atlanta VS Cincinati:
The return of Miles Robinson turned out to be worth the trip home for him and his teammates at FC Cincinnati. Almada's class goal may have put a damper on things for the visitors initially, but they fought back. Luciano Acosta, arguably the best ten in the league besides Messi, provided his team with a goal and assist, playing a big role in securing all three points for the reigning Supporters Shield winners.
NYCFC VS D.C. United:
Rest in peace D.C. United, you would've loved man-marking. NYCFC provided a dominant performance at home against the league's wooden spoon contenders (Sorry D.C. fans. I can't go more than a few paragraphs without being disrespectful. It's who I am). This game could've easily been four or five in favor of New York if not for the blatantly missed chances and a couple of decent saves from Bono. It's a good win for NYCFC.
Toronto VS New England:
If anyone shows Gregg Berhalter these highlights of Sean Johnson, I swear to God... This was a Sean Johnson masterclass. One note-worthy moment from this match was Ravas' penalty save against Bernadeschi in the seventy-sixth minute. Bernadeschi, who loves to hit his vape as a form of protest (????), has been lacking confidence this season. He currently sits with no goals, and New England's keeper, who otherwise struggled throughout the match, took advantage. This game ended 1-0 in favor of Toronto.
He's ready
NEVER FORGET
Columbus Crew VS Portland Timbers:
This is one of the better cross-conference rivalries, and you cannot tell me otherwise. In this wild 2-2, we saw Moreno score against Columbus once again, Mora make a comeback, and one of the best goals of the year so far from Moreira. Cucho was inches away from tying the match with a freekick in the final second, but ultimately, Portland would escape Columbus by the skin of their teeth with a well-deserved point on the road.
Houston VS Austin:
Austin barely got away with this one. Houston will feel they should've walked away with all three points at home. Everyone will be hyping up Sean Johnson for his performance with Toronto, but Brad Stuver deserves a huge shoutout for keeping Austin in this game. Rigoni was able to find the winning goal, and Austin would travel back home with all three points.
Chicago Fire VS RSL:
As an honorary Chicago Fire fan, this is painful. It was a painful highlight reel. The Chicago Fire are back to who they once were. Just watch the highlights. I don't even need to get into it. 4-0 in favor of the visitors.
Colorado Rapids VS FC Dallas:
This game proved that, once again, putting Calvin Harris on my bench in MLS fantasy was the right move. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made as a human being. Morally, ethically, and spiritually, I thank Calvin Harris every day for doing God's work and bringing me home the fantasy points I desperately crave. This game saw a crazy own goal and a goal from Calvin Harris himself. It seemed as though Dallas had the chance to get back into the match with Musa's eighty-seventh-minute goal, but it would be mere consolation. The Rapids won 2-1.
Seattle Sounders VS Vancouver:
Seeing the downfall of Seattle and Sporting Kansas City at the same time is like playing Jenga, thinking moving that tricky piece would cause you to lose, pulling off the move, and watching the next guy knock it over. What a rush. Initially, when I saw that Jackson Ragen foul, in no way shape or form was that a red card. I guess I was blind because Ragen's studs were alive and well, and I didn't even notice until watching the highlights again hours later. Thank God I did, because I would've looked stupid arguing that Ragen shouldn't have been sent off. Christian Roldan's red was even worse. That red is worthy of a multiple-game suspension. This game showcased the worst sides of Seattle's defense. Watching Seattle's defense literally give the opposing team the ball is like when you date a Hinge guy, and he slowly reveals to you over time why he's been on the app for four years. It's painful, but almost comical. This game ended 2-0 in favor of Vancouver, who are flying right now.
LAFC VS New York Red Bulls:
I was able to catch the second half of this one. First of all, what is Segura doing on that own goal? I could've done that. I get it happens, but the way he headed it into his own net was wild. The second half was even wilder: A penalty call against the Red Bulls resulted in Bouanga tying it up. (I'm going to say what everyone is thinking: Bouanga needs to be stopped. I'm not talking about how good he is. He's good, and we cannot deny that. I'm sick of these soft fouls and foul calls that weren't even fouls going his way. I need someone to time how much of the game he spends on the ground). The New York Red Bulls found a go-ahead goal in the eighty-first minute when Emil Forsberg (MLS' favorite absent father) found the back of the net on a set piece. LAFC would strike again through Bouanga in the ninety-fifth minute. The Red Bulls would come within inches of stealing all three points at the last kick, but the crossbar would save LAFC and preserve the 2-2 draw.
Imagine ghosting your family to play for a team in NEW JERSEY.
L.A Galaxy VS San Jose:
THIS GAME WAS ACTUALLY INSANE. I say this about every MLS game but trust me, this one's the one to beat. L.A. Galaxy provided a dominant performance in the first half leading San Jose 3-0 for the majority of it. San Jose found the back of the net about ten minutes before halftime, making it a little more interesting. Puig would respond in the fifty-sixth minute, putting the Galaxy up 4-1. Here's where things start to get interesting: Almost out of nothing, San Jose was able to find a second. Not long after that, a penalty is called against the Galaxy, and a red card is shown to Zavaleta, who had entered the field just nine minutes earlier. Jeremy Ebobisse converts the penalty kick making it 4-3. From then on, L.A. was on their heels. John McCarthy had to come up big a few times to keep his team in it. When all was said and done, San Jose was unable to equalize, and the Galaxy would take all three points.
GOALS FROM THIS WEEK:
Thiago Almada Goal: He's class
Moreira BANGER: One of the best goals of the year so far
St. Louis City BANGER: Let Pompeu cook
That's all for this week!
Comments
Post a Comment