Soccer Recap 21: Loons Break Losing Streak, ANOTHER Double-Match Week, , and A Look Around MLS
Minnesota Soccer Spot
Tuesday, July 16th
Loons Break Losing Streak, ANOTHER Double-Match Week, and A Look Around MLS
*Disclaimer: My takes are not thoughtful, and they are NOT based in knowledge.*
We're here for the twenty-second week of whatever this is. (Yes, I know it says "Soccer Recap 21", but real ones know there was an introduction blog a week before the season started). If you're still here, I'm unsure whether to be grateful or concerned. If this is your first time reading, get out while you still can. It's not too late!
Loons Break Losing Streak
This past Saturday, Minnesota United traveled to Texas to take on the Houston Dynamo. The last time these friendly foes faced each other, Houston had traveled to Allianz Field and left with all three points. For the first time in their history, the Dynamo had won a match in Minnesota. With that chip on their shoulder and a losing streak to break, The Loons hoped they could right both wrongs. They sort of did in typical Minnesota fashion, but there is a sign of life with this club that had been lacking for the last month and a half or so.
The Lineups:
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| MNUFC Lineup |
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| Houston Lineup |
Both lineups were announced around half an hour before the original kickoff time. For Minnesota, Eric Ramsay opted to go with a 5-3-2 formation. Alec Smir continues to start in net amid the absence of Dayne St. Clair (Copa America) and Clint Irwin (Injury). The back five includes regulars Devin Padelford, Michael Boxall, and Mickey Tapias. Carlos Harvey moves into a center-back role, a new look for the Panamanian, and Sang Bin Jeong moves to right-back, a position we've seen him play this season. Rosales and Dotson start in the three-man midfield along with Alejandro Bran, who is continuing to start for the injured Wil Trapp. Bongi Hlongwane and Robin Lod get the start up top. For Houston, Ben Olsen put forward a 4-2-3-1 in typical Adrian Heath fashion. The formation mimics the formation from their previous match. Daniel Steres steps in at left-back for Franco Escobar, who is serving his one-match yellow card accumulation suspension. Sebas Ferreira gets the start up top, and Coco Carrasquilla, who is returning from international duty with Panama, takes the place of Latif Blessing from the previous week. U.S. Soccer fans will remember Carrasquilla as the man who borderline tried to kill Christian Pulisic at the Copa America.
The Match:
The match was supposed to kick off at 7:40 PM central time. It looked as though the lightning delay wouldn't interfere with the original kick-off time, but alas, lightning would strike, and the match would be delayed right before the national anthem.
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| "For fuck's sake." - Devin Padelford |
Minnesota would start the match brightly, creating the first real opportunity for either side. Carlos Harvey sends a ball upfield, taking a deflection off the head of a Houston player. The deflection helps the ball fall to Bongi Hlongwane, who gets the better of Sviatchenko. He finds the central run of Robin Lod. Lod squares it to Rosales, whose shot is saved by Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark. In the end, Rosales' extra touch gives Clark more time to position himself to save the shot. After the save is made, the Loons would keep possession. Hassani Dotson finds a wide-open Sang Bin Jeong. Sang Bin finds Bongi Hlongwane, whose first-time shot hits the post. Minnesota doesn't make Houston pay, but regardless, it's a solid scoring opportunity for a team whose desperately in need of goals.
After this, Houston would maintain the majority of possession but would fail to generate many opportunities. In the thirty-second minute, a shot from Aliyu forces Smir into a smart save. A long-distance strike from Artur is shot straight at the Loons' keeper. Other than that, neither team had any legitimate scoring chances.
The second half would be a different story. In the fifty-first minute, Houston would have the opening chance of the half. The Dynamo midfield rips apart Minnesota's midfield and defense with intricate one-touch passing. Carrasquilla lifts a ball over the top of Minnesota's defense, finding Aliyu making a run in behind. Somehow, his shot goes out of play. Scientists need to study how he could've missed that, but to Minnesota's relief, he doesn't put his chance away.
Both teams would have a couple more half chances before Minnesota would find the breakthrough. In the seventieth minute, Rosales serves an out-swinging ball to the back post. Houston doesn't clear their lines completely, and the ball falls to Fragapane. He fizzes the ball to Rosales, who recycles the corner. His ball finds Robin Lod, who taps it home for a 1-0 lead. It's Robin Lod's sixth goal of the season (SEVENTEENTH GOAL CONTRIBUTION), and Minnesota United find themselves on the brink of breaking their losing streak.
Minnesota's momentum wouldn't last long. For the rest of the half, the away team would be on their heels defending Houston's pressure. In the seventy-eighth minute, Carrasquilla's cross forces Sebas Ferreira into a bicycle attempt that goes just wide. Just a minute later, a ball is served into Minnesota's box. Bassi puts it in the back of the net, but he is in an offside position.
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| "His teeth put him in an offside position." -My drunk dad |
All of this pressure would finally pay off for the home side. In the eighty-second minute, Mexican international Hector Herrera serves in an inswinging ball. The ball is headed right to the feet of a wide-open Sebas Ferreira, who slots it home. Minnesota would have to defend a couple more set pieces, but any opportunity Houston had would be half-hearted. The match would end 1-1, with Minnesota earning their first point since June 19th.
Overall, I think the Loons looked better than they have over this past month, obviously. Even with the result, this team is still struggling to maintain possession, especially on the road. The reality is that when on the road, them being the away team will always have them on their heels a bit. I don't think that is uncommon for most teams in MLS. Minnesota's problem is that we CANNOT hold onto leads in general. Our defensive composure tends to slip the further we go into a match. To me, it seems like a mental thing. Part of it may be the losing streak, so hopefully it being broken will help with that. Minnesota has two home games this coming week, and they need to take advantage of that advantage as well as the Canadians returning.
ANOTHER Double-Match Week:
This week, Minnesota United will face both D.C. United and San Jose at Allianz Field. With Minnesota having a bit more momentum, they'll look to take advantage of hosting both matches.
As far as lineups are concerned, Minnesota United fans will be ecstatic to see Dayne St. Clair and Tani Oluwaseyi back with their clubs. Similarly to fans, Dayne St. Clair had expressed frustrations with MLS' lack of scheduling around international windows. Regardless, they'll be happy to be back and help Minnesota climb out of the hole this scheduling (in part) buried them in.
With the two starters back, here's a mock lineup for this coming week of matches:
Obviously, the two Canadians will start. As far as the attack is concerned, I would like to see Pukki and Tani up top together. I think they have differing styles of play from one another. It may be a good experiment to have the experience and youth play together. With Pukki being more of a hold-up type of striker and Tani being more of the speed aspect, Minnesota will have multiple options on the field attack-wise. Defensively, Boxall and Tapias will start. Rosales may start as a left-back if Ramsay doesn't opt for him playing a midfield role. With DJ Taylor out, Caden Clark is the next-best option. I didn't care for Sang Bin at right-back, and again, Clark is the next-best option. Midfield-wise, I think Bran deserves to keep starting with Trapp out, and Lod & Dotson are mainstays.
Minnesota United will take on D.C. United tomorrow at 7:30 PM. They will also take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at 7:30 PM.
A Look Around MLS:
Here are some highlights from this week!
Dájome BANGER (D.C. United): In D.C. United's win over Nashville this past weekend, Cristian Dájome scored both goals in the 2-1 match. This is the game-winning goal.
Christian Ramirez Goal (Columbus Crew): Former MNUFC striker Christian Ramirez gets his goal against LAFC (another former club of his) in Columbus' 5-1 victory.
Cucho ROCKET (Columbus Crew): Cucho cooks again! Another goal in Columbus' 5-1 victory, and this one has to be the best of the five.
Erik Thommy Banger (SKC): This is Sporting Kansas City's first goal in their 2-1 victory over San Jose. The German midfielder continues to cook.
Here are all of the goals from this week:
That's all for this week!
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