Following up a comeback win in Columbus the Loons return to Minnesota for the first of three home matches ahead of the World Cup break. Tonight it's a rematch from the season opener as the Loons face Austin FC. Since meeting in that match the two clubs have had polar opposite seasons. MNUFC are 6-2-3 (W-D-L) and have only lost one of their last five matches. Los Verdes however have struggled to a 3-4-4 record, with two of those wins coming in their previous two matches. This is compared to Minnesota having won four of their last five matches.
"I think there were a different team now than they were through the 1st part of the season," manager Cameron Knowles said about Austin. "They getting guys back healthy that are big contributors for them. They're coming off of 2 wins and they'll be coming here with a lot of confidence, I'm sure."
Minnesota United have been lead offensively by Kelvin Yeboah and Joaquín Pereyra, with Yeboah leading the team in goals with seven and Pereyra leading in assists. MNUFC has started to look threatening on set pieces once again, with the Loons scoring all three goals against Columbus off a set piece. Anthony Markanich has also scored three goals so far this season, with just one coming from a header. Defensively Morris Duggan has taken over Michael Boxall's role at centre-back, but the New Zealand international returned last week. It remains to be seen where Boxall will slot into a very strong eleven as Wil Trapp also has not immediately broken back in following illness.
Austin's struggled have been shown in their statistics as El Tree sit 29th in created expected goals (xG) with 12.2 and 27th in conceded xG at 23.9 through eleven matches. Minnesota United sits at 14th in xG with 16.6 and 17th for xG conceded at 16.2.
Los Verdes top offensive players will need to be shut down, as happened in February, for the Loons to be successful. Facundo Torres leads the team in assists while Myrto Uzuni tops the goal scorer charts with four goals. But a former Loon following him up with three goals and that is Superman Christian Ramirez. Another former Loon in Joseph Rosales has also been making his name playing multiple positions for El Tree.
"There's a case to make (and I'm among those to make it) that Rosales has been Austin's best outfield player all season," Phil West from Austin's Verde All Day said to us on Joseph Rosales' performance so far this season.
News & Notes
Last night MNUFC2 hosted their third home match of the season and first at NSC Stadium. The Twoons fell to North Texas SC 2–0, taking their fourth loss on the season.
Bongi has returned to Minnesota but per Cameron Knowles yesterday, he is not expected to be listed on the matchday roster.
You can find more about Austin FC in this weeks Opponent Insight, where we talked to Austin outlet Verde All Day.
Supporters march to the match starts at 5pm at the Loon Statue near Snelling & University.
TV time is set for 6:00pm tonight with kickoff happening at approximately 6:09pm. You can watch on Apple TV and listen on 1500ESPN.
Availability
MIN | Out: Peter Stroud (quad), Julian Gressel (broken toe), Carlos Harvey (lower body), ; Questionable: Kyle Duncan (lower body)
ATX | Out: Jayden Nelson (lower body), Robert Taylor (knee) ; Questionable: None
Staff Predictions
- Seth Steffenhagen: 3–1 Loons
- Michael Lake: 2–0 Loons
- Bridget McDowell: 3–1 Superman [Austin]
- Ashle Paige: 2–1 Loons, Superman scores for Austin
- Tim McLaughlin: 1–1
- Knives Paige: 4–1 Loons
