MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Match Preview

Published on July 6, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Minnesota United once again turns its attention to Houston Dynamo following a 4-3 midweek victory versus reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC and a sensational first MLS hat trick in club history from Darwin Quintero. The Loons will be eager to build on that inspiring result and earn their second road win of the season when they travel to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, July 7.

Links to MNUFC training soundbytes, match notes and media guide are listed below, plus noteworthy first touches and an updated injury report:

FIRST TOUCHES:

Darwin Quintero scored the first hat trick for an MNUFC player in MLS in the 4-3 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday, July 4 (8', 52' and 57'). He now leads the Loons with six goals scored and two assists in 12 matches played.

Quintero is one of seven players with a hat trick this season, along with Dominique Badji (Colorado Rapids), Adama Diomande (LAFC), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City), Cristian Techera (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Josef Martinez (Atlanta United, two hat tricks on the year).

Miguel Ibarra scored his fourth goal of the season in the win against Toronto from his right-wingback position. He is currently second in MLS in shots-on-goal percentage, with 70.0 percent of his shots (14 of 20) ending up on target.

Ibarra increased his team-leading assist total to five and is one assist away from tying Kevin Molino's club record of 10 career assists with the Loons.

Francisco Calvo will be unavailable against Houston Dynamo due to yellow-card accumulation.

Rasmus Schuller has been given a Good Behavior Incentive, which reduces his yellow-card accumulation total, for featuring in five consecutive matches without receiving a yellow card.

Bobby Shuttleworth picked up his 14th win with the Loons last match. It was his 60th regular-season MLS victory since joining the league in 2010.

Shuttleworth made two saves against Toronto midweek, bringing his 2018 total to 50. He has made 166 saves since joining MNUFC.

This will be the third MLS match between MNUFC and Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Loons earned a 2-2 draw on April 15, 2017 and fell 2-1 on September 30 of the same year. Additionally, MNUFC was defeated 1-0 in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 at BBVA Compass Stadium last month.

Houston pulled off a dramatic 2-2 draw against LAFC on Tuesday, July 3. After falling behind 2-0, the Dynamo scored two goals in stoppage time to salvage a point at home.

Mauro Manotas' stoppage-time strike against LAFC helped him overtake Alberth Elis as Houston's leading scorer, with nine goals on the year.

Both MNUFC and Houston have five wins at home and one on the road this season.

INJURY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

D - Jerome Thiesson (R lower leg)

M - Sam Cronin (head)

M - Ethan Finlay (R ACL tear - out for season)

M - Kevin Molino (L ACL tear - out for season)

F - Abu Danladi (L leg)

QUESTIONABLE:

D - Marc Burch (L knee)

D - Eric Miller (L hamstring)

Houston Dynamo

OUT:

D - A.J. DeLaGarza (L ACL tear)

M/D - Andrew Wenger (L calf)

M - Juan David Cabezas (L quad)

F - Mac Steeves (L hip)

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