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Minnesota United FC vs. Los Angeles FC Preview

September 12, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Following its third-consecutive loss in a closely-contested match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, Minnesota United welcomes LAFC to Allianz Field. Tuesday night is the Loons' second-to-last home game of the 2022 regular season, and the stakes are high with just four matches remaining: MNUFC stands in sixth in the Western Conference with 44 points and remains in close contention for the final spots above the playoffs line. Facing the top team in the West is no easy feat, but LAFC has won only one time in its last five matches. The Loons defense showed fight against Portland, so they won't simply roll out the red carpet for the stars from Hollywood - it will be a fight for both sides as they equally desire to break out of their recent sluggish stretches.

ADRIAN HEATH ON LAFC'S RECENT FORM

"It's just a reminder that football is not easy. People think it's easy. They've [Los Angeles FC] lost four of the last five. They lost to Houston [Dynamo] the other day, who just sacked their manager because of their poor form. It just goes to show that you cannot take things for granted. You have to maintain that level. They were on course for breaking the points record and everything. It just goes to show that it can turn around very, very quickly. And it's not easy. People think it's easy at times. Last time I looked, the opposition want to win as well."

WIL TRAPP ON THE RESULT AT PORTLAND

"We just watched some review on it. For a change of shape, I thought we did some really good things. Now, that's a little bit tainted with the fact that the result didn't go our way, but we've got to take the positives from it knowing that we created chances, knowing that we defended extremely well. But, there's just those little moments, little concentration pieces that especially down the stretch here, they start to add up."

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SLEEPING GIANTS: A cautionary tale when looking at LAFC's form is to look at their goal-scoring habits. They have been held to just two clean sheets all season, and the most recent of those was over two months ago despite their wobble in form. However, their talisman and captain in Carlos Vela has been notably quiet during that very wobble. Vela has gone six games without scoring, his second-longest such stretch of the season, and has recorded just two assists in his last 11 games. They have obviously received plenty of support from elsewhere on the roster (more on that later), but one suspects that Vela individually will be looking to find a spark. The same could be said for notable summer signing Gareth Bale, who has just two goals since his move from Real Madrid to the MLS across nine appearances and none in LAFC's last five games.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

B. Dibassy - Thigh (out for the season)

H. Dotson - Knee (out for the season)

J. Hayes - Lower Leg (out for the season)

C. Montgomery - Thigh

QUESTIONABLE:

B. Hlongwane - Knee

E. Reynoso - Ankle

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. LOS ANGELES FC

ALLIANZ FIELD | SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA

09.13.22 | MLS Regular Season | Week 31

7:00 p.m. CT (BSN, The CW Twin Cities; Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2022 Record

MIN: 13-12-5 (7-4-4 at home)

LAFC: 19-8-3 (7-7-1 on the road)

Check out the Minnesota United FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 12, 2022


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