MNUFC2 vs. Earthquakes II Preview
September 18, 2022 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Minnesota United FC 2 News Release
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - MNUFC2 hosts Earthquakes II on Decision Day 2022, which will be the final game for the Loons this season. Last week, the Loons traveled west to face Timbers2, leaving Oregon with three points following a 4-2 victory on the back of goals from forwards Tani Oluwaseyi and Loic Mesanvi, midfielder Aziel Jackson and defender Nabilai Kibunguchy.
Minnesota and the San Jose side last met on June 8 in California in what turned out to be a late-game thriller. Earthquakes II scored first off forward Eduardo Blancas' penalty kick conversion in the 40th minute. The score remained 1-0 until MNUFC2 midfielder Diogo Pacheco connected on a cross and headed the ball inside the near post to equalize in the 90th minute. But, the Earthquakes fought back quickly and capitalized in the second minute of second-half added stoppage time when midfielder Jerry Ayon found space in the Loons' box, scoring the game-winning goal to steal the 2-1 victory over MNUFC2.
MNUFC2 currently sits in sixth in the Western Conference with 36 points. Their Silicon Valley opponents stand just above them in the fifth spot in the West with 38 points. Loons Head Coach Cameron Knowles is adamant that his side aims to finish the season as high on the Western Conference table as possible, and now only Earthquakes II is in their way to achieve that. A win on Sunday night would give MNUFC2 its 10th victory on the season, move the team into fifth position and cap off the season on a positive note - all in front of a home crowd.
Following Sunday night's match, MNUFC2's season comes to a close. The team will return in 2023 with a full regular-season schedule to be released in the coming months.
Cameron Knowles on facing an Earthquakes II team that beat the Loons on a late-game goal previously this season...
"It's the same thing we've been talking about all year. Details matter. We did a tremendous job last time, going down a man, to get ourselves back into that game. We were probably a little too aggressive closing out the game and I take a lot of responsibility for that. We should have just maybe weathered the storm, battened down the hatches and taken it to penalties to see where it ended up. But, they're a good team and they play well. They like to build the ball out of the back, they like a lot of player rotations and we need to be organized and disciplined just like we were in the last game and take our opportunities when they fall."
Cameron Knowles on the keys to the MNUFC2 defense playing a strong 90 minutes against the Earthquakes II side...
"We talked about, in the Portland [Timbers2] game, starting the game well and not letting our foot off the gas and we conceded at a critical time right before half time. It's just closing out those moments. [It's] treating the end of the half like the end of the game. When we've got the momentum and we've got the chances, [it's] putting the ball away and not letting our foot off the accelerator. The group's excited - it's our last home game. We should be up for it and should get a lot of energy and quality out of the guys."
Cameron Knowles on the players attitudes and overall feel ahead of their final match of the season...
"They've been really good. We set out with these last two games to get six points and two wins and to finish as high as we can and do the best we can to finish out the season properly. I think you saw that in the attitude with the guys. It would've been very easy with the disappointment of being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, it would've been easy for our guys to just sort of chuck it in and get through the 90 minutes and say 'oh well'. But, they played against a good, really strong Portland [Timbers2] team that had a number of players on loan from the first team and showed the fortitude to come back when they [Timbers2] equalized. The guys who'd come into the game did really well - Loic [Mesanvi], Veljko [Petkovic], Tommy [Williamson] - to get that three points for us. And it will be the same this weekend. We just need to finish on a high note and give a good account of who we are as individuals and what we are as a team."
MNUFC2 vs. EARTHQUAKES II
NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER STADIUM | BLAINE, MINNESOTA
09.18.22 | MLS NEXT PRO Regular Season | Week 24
6:00 p.m. CT (mlsnextpro.com)
2022 Record
MIN: 9-9-5 (5-4-2 at home)
SJE: 11-8-4 (6-4-1 on the road)
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