MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Ends Its Unbeaten Run in Colorado

Published on July 8, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


Commerce City, Col. - Minnesota United came into Wednesday's midweek match with the Colorado Rapids riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, but also knowing full well they let a home win against San Jose get away and that they haven't yet managed a win in the Centennial State. Injuries to their two starting centerbacks, Michael Boxall and Bakaye Dibassy, meant the starting XI would look quite a bit different, and Minnesota never managed to grab hold of the game, conceding a goal just before halftime and then another late in the second half to fall 2-0.

With DJ Taylor starting at right back for Romain Metanire - who remains in France sorting out his green card application - and Jan Gregus and Osvaldo Alonso stepping into midfield, the back half of the field looked quite a bit different than Loons fans have become accustomed to. The result of all the changes was immediately apparent as the visitors struggled to hit a rhythm early on. They got the better of the possession battle overall, but couldn't find the pass to break Colorado's lines, instead moving the ball in a U around the pitch and then often turning it over as they attempted to pick out offensive opportunities.

Colorado's plan was clear. They went early and often to Michael Barrios - who has traditionally fared well against Minnesota, ever since his time with FC Dallas - on the right wing in an attempt to isolate and break down Chase Gasper. To his credit, Gasper did well to mostly contain the speedy Barrios, blocking several crosses in the process. But the Rapids' relentless pressure down the line also forced Gasper to sit back and do less on offense himself. This placed a lot of weight on Emanuel Reynoso as a playmaker in the middle of the field, and he struggled to find Franco Fragapane and the newly returned Robin Lod in good positions. At least some of that was because of Gregus and Alonso having to stay home more to help shore up the centerback pairing of Brent Kallman and Jukka Raitala.

Colorado's defensive pressure only got bolder through the first half as their midfielders stepped hard to the recipient of any pass from the backline. Despite the Rapids appearing to have gotten the best of the game through the first 45, it looked like the Loons might escape to halftime in a scoreless draw, perhaps with a chance to make adjustments and being the second half with a clean slate. But then in the final minute of the first half, Colorado's Braian Galvan - who had switched sides with Barrios - got the ball on his left foot on the right side of the box and evaded Gasper long enough to whip in a curled shot just past Tyler Miller's outstretched fingers and onto the left post to make it 1-0 just before the halftime whistle.

To their credit, Minnesota began the second half with more energy than they started the first, but they still couldn't all get on the same page, with opportunities going begging as crosses failed to find targets and passes continued to come up short or go long. The Rapids picked up where they left off, carving out chances off of turnovers.

Seeking a different energy, Head Coach Adrian Heath went to his bench in the 65th minute for forward Ramon Abila to replace Adrien Hunou. In the 72nd minute, a furious set of chances in front of goal for the home side ended with Rubio sending a cross towards Cole Bassett, who headed the ball high. A minute later, Miller was forced into a gutsy save at close range on Rubio, and Fragapane was there on the near post to keep the ball out with a timely header on the ground on the follow-up. In the 76th minute, Heath went to the bench again to bring in Niko Hansen, Ethan Finlay and Hassani Dotson for Robin Lod, Franco Fragapane and Osvaldo Alonso, respectively.

Right away, Finlay provided an injection of energy, sprinting after long through balls down the right wing, but before the subs could even really find their feet, Colorado got on the board again. Off a turnover, Andre Shinyashiki found himself with the ball in front of a wall of defenders near the edge of the box. He attempted a give-and-go out wide but when his pass missed the mark, he followed it himself and chipped Miller to make it 2-0.

In the 86th minute, while getting set up for a free kick, Abila objected to a bit of a shove by Rubio and gave him a shot in the side. At first, it appeared that nothing had happened but on video review, the ref saw the punch and delivered a red card to Abila, reducing the Loons to 10 men. From there, it was all they could do to hang in the game for eight minutes of stoppage time and Minnesota United ultimately fell 2-0, their unbeaten streak snapped at seven.

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Tyler Miller

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Tyler Miller; D Chase Gasper, Jukka Raitala, Brent Kallman, DJ Taylor; M Osvaldo Alonso (c), Jan Gregus, Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod, Franco Fragapane; F Adrien Hunou

Colorado Rapids: GK William Yarbrough; D Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar; M Michael Barrios, Nicolas Mezquida, Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett; F Diego Rubio (c), Braian Galvan

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

7.18.2021 | MLS Week No. 13 | MLS Game No. 13

1:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North, CW Twin Cities, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On how he's previously mentioned getting off to a fast and how disappointed he was in tonight's start ...

"I don't think we started bad. At all. I thought we finished bad. We didn't start bad. We ended bad. Didn't have enough threat going forward. All evening. But, no. It certainly wasn't the start."

On playing Robin Lod with the group up front and if he got the kind of movement he was looking for out of the attacking players ...

"We were poor in the forward areas. As I said, there's two sides to every game of football. One of it is with the ball and one of it is without. And we only wanted to do the with tonight. And we still wanted to play comfortable and safe football with the ball as well. Didn't want to get out of our comfort zone. Didn't want to play the ball forward without the ball. And, didn't do enough when the opposition had the ball. All in all, very, very poor and disappointing evening."

On what problems it imposed having to reconfigure the entire back four ...

"Doesn't matter. Doesn't stop your running. Doesn't stop your fighting. Doesn't stop your being first to the ball. Winning first headers. Winning second balls. It doesn't matter who plays. Obviously, you would prefer to keep a balanced team. You would prefer to keep so called better players, but, that would be an excuse this evening. And I'm not giving excuses out."

On DJ Taylor's status ...

"He had a little cramp late on in the game."

On if he got a look at Ramon Abila's red card ...

"No. No. But, if he's punched him, then you're going to get sent off. Can't do it these days. Too many cameras. VAR. All the stuff that we know. So, if he's done it, serves him right and he's cost the rest of the group as well."

On Michael Boxall and his prospects of going to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games ...

"He's got a problem at this minute in time and he probably won't be going I would think."

On how Robin Lod did in his first game back since returning with the squad from the 2020 UEFA European Championship ...

"Okay. Looked tired. Obviously hasn't done a lot since the end of the EUROs because he's been injured and waiting for his green card process to go through. So, wasn't ideal. But, you know, we thought we needed to freshen it up."

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