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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United FC vs. Portland Timbers

February 29, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS

PROVIDENCE PARK | PORTLAND, OREGON

03.01.20 | MLS Week 1 | MLS Game No. 1

6:30 p.m. CT (FS1 / MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

2019 Record

MIN: 15-11-8; 5-10-2 on the road

POR: 14-13-7; 8-5-4 at home

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Minnesota United opens its 2020 MLS season in a game against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park - a venue the team grew very familiar with as it wrapped up its preseason with a tournament in the Rose City last week. Last year, the Loons underwent one of the most dramatic defensive turnarounds the league has seen after acquiring MLS veterans Ike Opara and Osvaldo Alonso, plus international acquisitions Jan Gregus and Romain Metanire. Opara won Defender of the Year and MNUFC earned its first playoff berth and first home playoff game in its third season. This past offseason, the club added former LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller between the pipes and bolstered an uneven attack with the addition of Paraguayan forward Luis Amarilla. Minnesota United heads into the season with strongest squad they've ever had in MLS after coming close to finishing second in the Western Conference.

THE OPPOSITION

The Portland Timbers suffered a first-round exit from the playoffs against Real Salt Lake last year after weathering an extended slate of away games due to construction at Providence Park.

They were knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup at the hand of Minnesota United at Allianz Field

Portland inked Diego Valeri to a new contract and added two new strikers in Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Felipe Mora.

Diego Chara remains a stalwart in the defensive midfield while welcoming his younger brother, Yimmi, to the attack.

Portland has added firepower to a team that often relied on suffocating you on defense.

HEATH ON HIS EXCITEMENT OF THE TEAM'S DEPTH

"I'm pleased with the group that we've got. Quietly, we've added 11 players, obviously three goalkeepers in that, but when you look at the [Aaron] Schoenfeld, Jacori Hayes, Marlon Hairston, Raheem Edwards, great depth to what we've done, all played in the league, all played in successful teams. We've got a big year coming up with the Olympics for one or two, Euro [Cup] for one or two, Leagues Cup, Open Cup, we're going to need all these players but the one really great thing is we've had a really good preseason and it's shown to me and the rest of the staff, that should we need depth, any of the player's I've just mentioned, we wouldn't hesitate on putting them in." [FULL INTERVIEW HERE]

ALONSO ON PREPARING FOR PORTLAND

"It's going to be a difficult game. All the games in the league are equally difficult and more so as the visiting team, and we're starting the season as visitors. Portland is a great tea, we know they have great potential. But anyways, we have to do our job and go after three points, and give it all we have to come away with a victory." [FULL INTERVIEW HERE, español]

GREGUS ON THE BIGGEST DIFFERNCE IN HIS SECOND SEASON

"It's too early to talk about. We obviously have quality players now, still, the squad is strong but to say how strong we are, how best we are, it's too early. I think the season will show and we just have to prove it every single game and see." [FULL INTERVIEW HERE]

FULL QUOTE SHEET HERE

STORYLINES

Minnesota went 2-0-1 against Portland in two league games and one U.S. Open Cup game in 2019 - includes a pair of back-to-back games at Allianz Field on August 4 and August 7 that saw the Loons besting the Timbers 1-0 in league play and 2-1 in the Open Cup to advance to the final.

Watch heading into the season opener Portland's shape following a disappointing preseason that included a 4-2 loss to MNUFC at home last week.

Will Savarese shake up his formation in hopes of sparking his team to a quick start or will he stand pat in the belief that the heightened stakes of the regular season will be enough to edge out a Minnesota squad that looked dangerous for much of the preseason.

FIRST TOUCHES: Minnesota set MLS club records in 2019 with 15 wins, 53 points and 52 goals scored during the season. The team tied its single-season record for assists with 46. [READ MORE]

MATCH NOTES:

Minnesota United's match notes can be downloaded here.

INJURY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

N/A

QUESTIONABLE:

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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