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NASL Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United to Travel to Mexico for 2016 Preseason Tour

March 1, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - After playing three matches at the Simple Invitational in Portland, Minnesota United continues its preseason with a trip to Mexico. United travel south of the border from March 7 through 17 and will play three matches - two against Liga MX teams, Pachuca Reserves and Cruz Azul, as well as a contest against the Mexico U20 National Team. This is the third preseason tour abroad in three years for the club, which previously has visited England and Brazil.

Like in years past, the trip allows the club to eliminate the distractions of everyday life, focus on training, and become a better team as a whole. Building chemistry, especially with several new players joining the team this season, is the key objective for Minnesota. The style of play, set in place by Head Coach Carl Craig, requires all players to be on the same page, thinking quickly, working as one unit rather than individuals to be successful.

"This trip was in the planning stages for a long time. As a club we need to get out of the Minnesota climate and spend time together to gel as a team and find some really competitive opponents," said Minnesota United Sporting Director Manny Lagos. "Liga MX is an amazing league and is so well respected in world soccer and we know we will get very good games. This trip is also important to continue to build our brand and our soccer network throughout the world."

The team will be training at Pachuca's facilities: the Universidad del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte. Located just outside of the city center, UFD is one of the premier training and educational centers in the area, offering programs for Pachuca academy players from elementary school through college. The facility features several practice fields and world-class training facilities. United will train at the facility from March 7 through March 12.

"We are extremely excited to train at Pachuca's facility which is an amazing, world-class training space," said Lagos. "The growth they have had shown since new ownership is similar to our path and we are thrilled to work with a top-tier club. It is a great opportunity to partner with Pachuca and have them host us for a portion of this trip. I know they are excited to have our club at their facility."

United opens its competition on tour by playing the Pachuca reserve team on March 9th. Pachuca, a team from central Mexico, has won five titles in Mexico's top flight, the most recent in 2007, and four CONCACAF Champions League titles. Founded in 1901, Los Tuzos (the gophers) made their first appearance in the top flight in 1967, remaining there for seven seasons before getting relegated once again. After a turbulent period in the 1990's, the team has become a mainstay in Liga MX. They recently finished 13th in the 2015 Apertura and currently sit in 2nd place in the 2016 Clausura.

The Loons will then take on the Mexico U20 National Team on March 12th. The two teams previously played an exhibition game in 2014 at the National Sports Center in Blaine. In front of a sellout crowd, Mexico and Minnesota tied 1-1 in regulation after goals from Christian Ramirez and Jorge Esperiqueta. United was able to best Mexico 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The U20 team recently won the CONCACAF U20 Championship, qualifying the team for the U20 World Cup in 2017.

For the final five days of the trip, United will move to Mexico City where it will train at La Noria - the home of Cruz Azul, which houses the club's training facilities as well as its corporate offices. La Noria features three full-sized fields, on-site medical services, an indoor pool, gym and weight training area, and other amenities.

Minnesota will close out the competitive portion of the tour on March 16th when it faces Cruz Azul. Cruz Azul is one of the most storied and successful clubs in Mexico, with eight Liga MX titles and six CONCACAF Champions League titles, the most of any club in the region. Los Celestes hold the Mexican soccer record for most games unbeaten at home, with an impressive run of 47 matches. They stuttered out of the gate this season, finishing 14th in the 2015 Apertura, but are have started the Clausura season strong, currently sitting in fifth.

"Facing a club like Cruz Azul which is such a storied club in Mexican soccer is going to be a great experience for our players," said Lagos. "This will be another important trip for this club and we are proud to have an ownership group that believes in brand-building in the global soccer market."

The first trip abroad for the mighty Loons was to England, where Minnesota trained at St. George's Park, home of the English National Team. United faced off against Matlock Town, Nike Pro Player Academy, and Derby County of the English Championship.

The following year, the team made its way south to Brazil, the home country of several Minnesota players. Utilizing the training facility of CT João Havelange in Pinheiral, in the Rio de Janeiro area, Minnesota was able to test its mettle against Serie A and B clubs as well as lower level sides. The trip included a surprise 1-0 victory against Vasco da Gama.

Touring abroad has proven to be very successful for United in the past, and brought the team together it to become one of the most dominant clubs in the NASL. After the 2014 trip to England, Minnesota went on to win the Spring Championship and finished atop of the Combined Standings. 2015 brought a similar success following a trip to Brazil. The Loons put together the highest scoring team in modern NASL history and made its fifth playoff appearance in six years.

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