MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United FC at Portland Timbers Preview

Published on June 26, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - With an end-to-end 2-0 win over visiting Austin FC on Wednesday night, Minnesota United stretched their unbeaten streak to five and climbed up to eighth in the Western Conference standings. The team that scored twice early and locked down the pitch for the rest of the game looked nigh unrecognizable when compared to the squad that began the year so shakily on a four-game skid. A lot of credit will go to the additions of Franco Fragapane on the left wing and Adrien Hunou at forward. The two newest Loons combined with Emanuel Reynoso to cut between the lines and find creases to make life difficult for an Austin side that bested MNUFC 1-0 in their first meeting in May. But don't sleep on the defensive solidity brought by the return of centerback Bakaye Dibassy to the backline. The tandem of he and Michael Boxall have locked things down and Tyler Miller - who leads the league in save percentage at 90% - has been there to erase shots whenever they've gotten through. They will need to keep everything humming against Portland as they head to the fortress that is Providence Park, but the Loons showed last season they can hang, claiming all three points from the season opener in 2020 - their first ever win in the Rose City.

Head Coach Adrian Heath

Midfielder Wil Trapp

ADRIAN HEATH ON THE SHORT TURNAROUND

"What have we done in terms of can we get them prepared and I think it's more physical. We haven't done an awful lot on the grass, a lot of work with video. And tomorrow, it's a lot of time, it's going to be state of mind. Can you be positive. For sure they're going to be tired because that's the nature of the game. [Portland] traveled to Houston in midweek, they've had to travel as well. It is what it is, we get on with it. Looks like it's going to be incredibly hot. The fact we've put the game back another half an hour indicates how difficult it's going to be. But we had a lot of positives come out of the game the other night. We have to take that into this game."

WILL TRAPP ON THE GAME AGAINST AUSTIN

"I think, especially in the first half, the way we moved the ball and broke lines, and were dangerous when we did break lines, was very, very impressive. And it helps to have guys that understand spacing, understand the pockets of when to come low, when to turn and attack. I mean, scoring two goals is great. We needed that confidence and that potency in the front half of the team, we felt that."

THE OPPOSITION

The Portland Timbers' 4-4-1 record through the first nine games of the season seem to be cause for neither celebration, nor concern. They've lost to struggling teams like Vancouver and Dallas, and beaten teams above them like Kansas City and the Galaxy. Providence Park continues to provide a considerable advantage, with three of their four wins coming at home and three of their four losses coming on the road. They've struggled with injuries but now have Designated Player Sebastian Blanco back as well as their linchpin, Diego Chara. But they're still missing Cristhian Paredes and Jaroslaw Niezgoda, plus Yimmi Chara is away on international duty. The Timbers have long been a team known for playing deep and striking on the counterattack and that doesn't look to change in their own building anytime soon.

STORYLINE presented by BMW

THAT'S ME IN THE CORNER: Every team has a weakness. Some are glaring, some get covered up or compensated for extremely well. Coaches spend a lot of time working to maximize their team's strengths and then apply them to their opponents' pain points, and one of the Portland Timbers' glaring pain points is defending set pieces. At 6.06, Portland have the highest expected goals allowed from set pieces and corner kicks so far this season. For comparison, Minnesota's xGA is a comparatively meager 1.95. If the Loons can capitalize on the Timbers' shaky set piece defense by being aggressive and drawing fouls, plus putting in shots that force punched saves and deflections that can earn corner kicks, it could put the visitors on the front foot early this weekend. The bad news for MNUFC, though, is that their xGF on set pieces and corner kicks is a middling 2.17 on the year. But the arrival of Franco Fragapane and Adrien Hunou - who connected on a corner kick by the former and a header by the latter against Austin FC - bodes well for improved scoring from dead ball opportunities going forward.

FIRST TOUCHES: Tyler Miller leads the league in goals against average for players with at least five games at 0.40. His save percentage of 90% also leads the league.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

Robin Lod - International Duty

Jukka Raitala - International Duty

Jan Gregus - International Duty

QUESTIONABLE:

N/A

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