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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders Match Preview

April 21, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Minnesota United look to rebound after a disappointing home loss to Orlando City SC. The Loons opened the scoring with midfielder Bongokuhle Hlongwane's second goal of the season, only to see the lead slip away in the second half, eventually falling 2-1 to the Lions. Things don't get easier as MNUFC now heads northwest to face the Seattle Sounders. The Loons have yet to win in Seattle and face a Sounders side who are unbeaten at hom this season and are coming off a disappointing loss of their own against their rivals in the Portland Timbers. The Sounds fell 4-1 to the Timbers and will look to get back on the right track against a Loons' team who has fared well on the road this year with a 3-1-0 record. HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH ON TAKEAWAYS FROM ORLANDO CITY MATCH...

"The first thing is the disappointment of the result, not the disappointment of the performance. I actually thought for the first 35-40 minutes might be the best we've played all season. I just felt that there was a little bit of resemblance of our normal self, playing through the lines, getting Sang Bin [Jeong] in little pockets. I thought Robin [Lod] looked as though he's coming back to some sort of form, so there was positives, certainly, from the game."

ON MAINTAINING POSITIVE MINDSET HEADING INTO SEATTLE...

"I generally would talk about working off performances. You can win games very, very luckily. Invariably, if your performances are good and you're doing what's asked of the group, we'll take that. They did it this weekend and that was disappointing to the players because they [Orlando City SC] had two efforts at goal and scored two goals. One that's come off the cross bar, we've got five men there and it drops to their one man in the box. That was a disappointment, we know that, but no, we've had a decent start. We have to maintain, we've got a difficult road [match] coming up next. We go away to Seattle. And on the back of their result they just had in Portland, it won't be any easier than it normally is, for sure."

MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP ON STAYING MOTIVATED AFTER BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES

"I don't think motivation's an issue. I think it's understanding what's working, and we saw what worked in the first half. We have to continue to push that. We scored a great goal. Ultimately, I think the second half, in terms of a little bit of change of shape, was something we were trying to adapt to. But taking this into the next game, we know it's a good opponent in Seattle, and it's something we can move on from."

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

The Loons come into Saturday's matchup with the Sounders on a two-game skid that hasn't been for lack of effort, with hard-fought showings against Chicago and Orlando City going for naught after late goals left the boys stunned and without any points towards upping their standing in the Western Conference. As Coach Adrian Heath would go on to say at training this week, "The first thing is the disappointment of the result, not the disappointment of the performance."

The follow up to this tough stretch? Taking on a Seattle squad that's looked quite legit throughout the start of their season, save for last week's 4-1 loss at the hands of rival Portland Timbers. And, just for good measure, it's at Lumen Field, a notoriously tough environment for visitors. As Coach Heath would reiterate, the Loons are fully aware of the challenge that awaits them. "They're a very, very good team. Really well coached and great atmosphere that they generate to play in. It's not just difficult for Minnesota, trust me, it's difficult for most teams when they go there."

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

B. Dibassy - Thigh

R. Jiba - Knee

M. Marques - Ankle

E. Reynoso - Suspended

QUESTIONABLE:

N/A

MINNESOTA UNITED @ SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

LUMEN FIELD | SEATTLE, WA.

4.22.23 | MLS Regular Season | Matchday 9

9:30 p.m. CT (Apple TV, MLS Season Pass; MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2023 Record

MIN: 3-2-2 (3-1-0 on the road)

SEA: 5-2-1 (3-0-1 at home)

Check out the Minnesota United FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from April 21, 2023


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