Soccer Recap 20: The Minnesota United Rundown

 

Minnesota Soccer Spot 

Wednesday, July 10th

The Minnesota United Rundown

*Disclaimer: My takes are not thoughtful, and they are NOT based in knowledge.*  

An Introduction:

Welcome back to the most disorganized soccer blog you’ll ever read. If you’re new, welcome. If you’re a returning reader, my apologies. But you’ll be happy to hear that this blog will be short and sweet thanks to my procrastination skills. It’s been one of those weeks—that, coupled with the fact that this team is getting genuinely depressing to write about. I’m trying to protect my peace as much as possible. In summary, this blog will be short and boring. 

This past week, Minnesota United took on both the Vancouver Whitecaps and L.A. Galaxy in two, once again, poor displays. With two more losses, Minnesota’s losing streak has been extended to six, setting a new record high for the club. 

MNUFC VS Vancouver Whitecaps:

One week ago, Minnesota United took on the Vancouver Whitecaps at Allianz Field. Vancouver was looking to take advantage of Minnesota's poor form, and they did just that, once again silencing a crowd of around 19,000 in St. Paul. 

Here’s how both teams lined up:

Eric Ramsay’s side put forward a 4-4-2 lineup, mirroring the formation from the previous Saturday. Since the match against Portland, it was announced that Clint Irwin picked up an injury. Because of that, as I predicted, Minnesota United 2 goalkeeper Alec Smir got the start in net, this being his MLS debut. The defensive line is identical to the previous week. Lod moves from his midfield position to a striker alongside Sang Bin Jeong. Dotson returns from suspension, and Alejandro Bran starts alongside him in the midfield. Hlongwane moves to the right in the 4-4-2 with Rosales on the left. As far as Vancouver is concerned, they put forward a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup featured U.S. international Brian White and striker Ryan Gauld as the two more well-known players on their roster. It also featured Sebastian Berhalter, whose father has been a threat to American safety since 2019. 

The match started as horribly as it possibly could for the Loons. In the fourth minute, Boxall has a severe lapse in judgment, leading to an under-hit backpass to Alec Smir. Vancouver takes advantage, and they are up 1-0 thanks to Brian White. This would quickly be followed up with a second: A corner for the Whitecaps is taken short. Gauld swings in a beautiful ball finding the head of Laborda, and the game is 2-0. 

Minnesota would have a couple of chances: The ball is given away by Vancouver's keeper. Bongi Hlongwane takes advantage, squaring the ball to Robin Lod whose shot is blocked by a Whitecaps defender. Not long after, a penalty would be awarded to Minnesota. A well-worked ball on Minnesota's right side is served in, and it hits the arm of the Vancouver center back. It's hard to definitively tell from the angles provided whether or not it hits the arm, so the call stands. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Rosales' penalty is saved, and the game remains 2-0. 

Immediately following the penalty miss, Minnesota would score in Minnesota fashion. Joseph Rosales serves an out-swinging ball into the Whitecaps' box. It finds the body of Hassani Dotson, who is able to provide a ball to the head of Hlongwane. He puts it away, Rosales breathes a massive sigh of relief, and the match is 2-1. Both teams would have a couple more half-chances before the break, but the first half would end 2-1. 

Minnesota would start the second half well. In the forty-eighth minute, a long throw-in from Devin Padelford makes its way into Vancouver's box. It finds the foot of Sang Bin, who with his vision blocked, taps it just wide. Vancouver would punish Minnesota for the missed chance. In the sixtieth minute, a poor clearance from Padelford would turn possession over. The ball is well-worked in the center of midfield, and Sebastian Berhalter provides a banging finish from the top of the box. There's nothing Smir can do, and the visitors are up 3-1. 

The rest of the half would be a typical offensive display from Minnesota United. Both Bongi Hlongwane and Sang Bin Jeong would have multiple chances to give Minnesota some life, but all would fall short. Some were due to great saves from Takaoaka, but others were due to poor play from the two attacking Loons. The match would end 3-1. 

MNUFC VS L.A. Galaxy:

This past Saturday, Minnesota United traveled to Carson, California to take on the L.A. Galaxy. Get ready for more pain:

Here’s how both teams lined up:

Eric Ramsay provides a 4-4-2 lineup. The lineup provides the same flexibility among the backline as the previous week (being able to switch between a back-four and back-five), the only difference being DJ Taylor taking the place of Caden Clark. L.A. Galaxy put forward a 4-2-3-1, mimicking an Adrian Heath lineup. This lineup featured big names Riqui Puig, Dejan Jovelic, Gabriel Pec, and Joseph Painstil.

The match would be pretty quiet until the twenty-fifth minute. A perfectly weighted switchball from Puig falls to the foot of a wide-open Yamane. He squares the ball to Pec, who puts it through the legs of Smir. It's unlucky from the Minnesota goalkeeper, and the home side is up 1-0. The Galaxy punishes Minnesota for their poor defensive marking. 

Minnesota would respond with a chance of their own. In the thirtieth minute, Rosales serves a ball into the Galaxy's box, finding Michael Boxall of all people. He gets on the end of it, but it falls right into the hands of John McCarthy. Boxall's quest to start as a striker continues, but it provides a bit more life for the visiting side. Immediately after, a well-worked ball from McCarthy to the Galaxy's defense would find the foot of Painstil, forcing Smir into a great save. The corner kick resulting from that would result in a Minnesota goal for Bran, but it's clear in real-time that there was an offside in the play leading up to the goal. 

Minnesota would dominate the rest of the first half. A distance strike from Rosales would end up just wide of McCarthy's left-hand post. A well-worked ball would find the head of Sang Bin Jeong who doesn't get quite enough power on it. Another long-distance strike from Rosales would force McCarthy into a smart save. Unfortunately for the Loons, these chances would run out, and the half would end 1-0 in favor of L.A.

The beginning of the second half would be quiet for both sides, only half-chances coming their way. That would change in the sixty-first minute when Teemu Pukki makes his return from injury. In the seventy-third minute, Dotson would provide a great ball to Pukki making a central run. He strikes it from distance, perfectly finishing, and the match is tied. It's a goal both Minnesota United and Teemu Pukki desperately needed. Both teams would have chances, but the Galaxy would ultimately make the Loons pay. Gabriel Pec would score his second at the beginning of stoppage time, and the match would end 2-1. It's a morale-boosting win for the home side and a sixth defeat in a row for the visitors. 

Houston Next:

Minnesota United will travel to Houston, Texas to take on the Houston Dynamo this coming Saturday. Minnesota needs a result here to turn the team around. Unfortunately for them, both Dayne St. Clair and Tani Oluwaseyi will be out another week to play in the Copa America third-place match. With that being said, here's how I predict they will line up. 

Ramsay seems to like the 4-4-2 lineup, and I'm assuming this will not change. With Taylor going down injured during the match against the Galaxy, the only change would be to replace him with Caden Clark. I predict the midfield to stay the same, except putting Lod in more of a midfield role rather than an attacking one. I don't think Pukki will get the start up top, even though there are arguments that he should. I think Ramsay will want to manage his minutes for a bit longer with him coming off of an injury, but he will definitely appear off of the bench. 

I've already said it, but Minnesota need a result here. They have to start changing things and survive until the summer transfer window. The club is looking to beef its roster up, so we will have to wait and see. 

That's all for this week! Next week we will return to a longer tangent of regularly scheduled programming.