Soccer Recap 22: Minnesota's Wakeup Call, Back To Winning Ways, A Look Around MLS, and a U.S. Soccer Olympic Preview

 

Minnesota Soccer Spot 

Tuesday, July 23rd

Minnesota's Wakeup Call, Back To Winning Ways, Leagues Cup, A Look Around MLS, and a U.S. Soccer Olympic Preview

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

First, Another Disclaimer:

My favorite thing about writing this blog is that I can change the days I post the blog without giving any warning. This is my warning (about five weeks too late). I will be completely honest: Posting these on Tuesdays gives me an extra day to procrastinate. With that being said, let's get into the madness. 

Minnesota's Wakeup Call:

This past Wednesday, Minnesota United took on D.C. United at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Going into this match, fans felt this was a must-win. The Loons hadn't won a match since June 1, and you could feel the tension starting to build among everyone involved. 

Here is how both teams lined up going into the match:

MNUFC Lineup

D.C. United Lineup

Eric Ramsay opts to change his tactics and presents a 5-4-1 lineup. Dayne St. Clair returns to the starting eleven with the conclusion of the Copa American tournament. The back five features the familiar faces of Devin Padelford, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall, Carlos Harvey, and Caden Clark (left to right). Sang Bin and Bongi Hlongwane take space on the outside midfield positions with Lod and Dotson central. Tani Oluwaseyi makes his return from international duty and reclaims his starting spot. 

As far as D.C. United is concerned, coach Troy Lesesne delivers a 3-4-2-1 formation. Former Minnesota goalkeeper Tyler Miller is not in the eighteen for the visitors. Besides Miller, MLS fans will recognize the likes of Christian Benteke, who is currently tied for the second-highest goalscorer in MLS this season. Real fans will also remember Cristian Dájome, the scorer of the worst penalty call called against Minnesota (circa 2021 against the Vancouver Whitecaps). Fans will also remember how he hurt himself in the celebration. Since that moment, my beef with him was personal. My beef with D.C. midfielder Jared Stroud is also personal. I don't have a specific origin story for this beef. He just pisses me off. 

Minnesota got off to an electric start. In the first minute of play, D.C. United turns the ball over. Bongi Hlongwane works the ball down the right side. He crosses it to find Sang Bin making a central run. He attempts to tap the ball in, but Bono is in the right place at the right time to block the shot. Following this, Minnesota would have a few half chances or corner kicks, but nothing major. 

The Loons would eventually lose this momentum. In the fourteenth minute, Caden Clark's pass is intercepted by Dajome. The ball is slotted through to Benteke. Benteke cooks Bongi, and slots it underneath a diving St. Clair. It's yet ANOTHER horrible defensive moment from Minnesota, and the match is 1-0.

Tani Oluwaseyi would respond not long after. In the thirty-second minute, the ball is bouncing back and forth between both teams. The ball kindly falls to Oluwaseyi, who is kept onside by poor timing from D.C.'s defensive line. He slots it home, and the match is tied. 

Throughout the rest of the match, both teams would have half-chances until the last ten minutes or so. In the eightieth minute, Rosales serves a corner kick into D.C.'s box. The visitors do a poor job of clearing the ball, the ball falling to Oluwaseyi. He finds Lod just a few yards away from him, who slots the ball through to Teemu Pukki. He finishes beautifully, and it seems as though the Loons are on their way to three points. 

This is when the match would take the darkest turn a match can. In the eighty-ninth minute, D.C. United is awarded a corner kick. Minnesota does a poor job of marking, and Herrera puts it away. Just a minute later, D.C. United takes another set piece from further up the pitch. Carlos Harvey fails to get a toe on the ball, and Benteke slots it home. It's a horrendous collapse from the Loons, and the match will end 3-2. 

Taken Moments Before A Disaster

Back To Winning Ways:

Following the Loons' collapse that Wednesday, Minnesota would have another opportunity to gain three points at home. They faced the San Jose Earthquakes, a team that has been struggling for as long as I've been watching MLS. If the previous match was a must-win, this was do-or-die time. 

Disclaimer, I watched bits and pieces of this match on my phone. I was up at a cabin, and full disclosure, I was drunk on white claw. I sadly will not provide a summary of this match. It feels unethical to give my thoughts and opinions on a match I did not watch, but I will link the highlights and an unrelated photo of my father drinking white claw. Consider this an ad. White Claw, pay me. 

MNUFC VS San Jose Highlights

In His White College Girl Era

Leagues Cup Around The Corner:

Leagues Cup begins this Friday! Minnesota will kick off their campaign against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field at 9 PM. For the next month, my blog will focus on Leagues cup due to Major League Soccer taking time off. I will be covering Minnesota United along with every other team in MLS. (I know I should be boycotting due to the Open Cup decision, but I have a job to do). 

A Look Around MLS:

It was a busy week! Here are some of the highlights!

Match Day 27:

Wiki Carmona Goal (Red Bull): Wiki Carmona finishes beautifully against Montreal at Red Bull Arena. This match would end in a 2-2 draw, but this is the best goal from that match. 

Ian Harkes FIRST MLS GOAL (New England): This was a BANGER. Yes, they lost 5-1. We just won't talk about it. 

Baribo HAT TRICK (Phili Union): Speaking of the 5-1 loss, here are three of the goals (rest in peace New England. You would've loved this blog). 

Quinn Sullivan BANGER (Phili Union): This goal was scored immediately before his brother made his MLS debut. Sunday dinner was very awkward, I'm sure. 

Zardes Goal (Austin FC): Nice finish from the (former. THIS IS EXTREMELY EMPHASIZED) U.S. International. 

Gyasi Zardes' Original Gig

Match Day 28:

Kyle Duncan COOKS (Red Bull): As the title says, let him cook. 

Dániel Gazdag HAT TRICK (Phili Union): One of my favorite midfielders in MLS is back with a hat trick! The icing on the cake was the third goal being Brent Kallman's fault. Brings tears (of joy) to my eyes. 

There were other goals too, of course, but I surprisingly have a life, and cannot link them all. 

U.S. Olympic Soccer Preview:

The olympics begin this week! Both the USWNT and the USMNT U23s will compete for separate medals! The U23s start tomorrow while the USWNT starts their campaign on Wednesday. MLS fans will be looking forward to watching their products compete on the U23 side, and USWNT fans will be manifesting a medal for the bronze medal winners from four years ago. 

For those of you who don't know, the men and women have different rules when it comes to the Olympics when it comes to soccer. The men put forward their U23 team, which is essentially playing a bunch of children. This is why you won't see the likes of Pulisic or Turner on this roster. The interesting part is the three over-age player exception. With European clubs obviously not releasing their star players, the USYNT opted to go with Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, and Djordje Mihailovic, all of whom are MLS players. The women do not have this rule and have sent their typical roster. 

Both teams have something to prove: The USWNT have historically dominated international tournaments, but sadly only placed third last time around. The USYNT didn't even qualify (thanks David Ochoa) for the previous Olympics. Both teams will look to right the wrongs of the previous competition.

I will be covering these matches in my blog, so stay tuned! 

That's all for this week!