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MLS NEXT Pro Minnesota United FC 2

MNUFC2 vs. STL Preview 7.10.22

July 9, 2022 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Minnesota United FC 2 News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- For a second-consecutive week, MNUFC2 plays at home, this time hosting a top team in the Western Conference. MNUFC2 is coming off of a dominating 2-0 win against Whitecaps FC 2 last week, but the Loons will need to maintain their form in a tough matchup against St. Louis CITY2 on Sunday night.

The last time these two teams met, MNUFC2 secured a 4-0 victory and handed St. Louis CITY2 its first loss of the season, all while on St. Louis turf. Head Coach Cameron Knowles' MNUFC2 side took advantage of a rotated CITY2 squad and started the game quickly, notching three goals before the close of the first half. It was an impressive effort, made even more impressive by the collective team presence at such an early stage in the season. Proving that the collective effort was present, three different players scored against St. Louis (Aziel Jackson, Justin McMaster and Tommy Williamson) while Diogo Pacheco assisted on three of the four goals.

Despite the dominant win back in April, the Loons knows this will be a different game and are prepared for a different type of battle: St. Louis hovers atop the Western Conference standings while MNUFC2 continues a solid run of form in contention for a playoffs spot.

MATCH NOTES:

MNUFC2's match notes can be downloaded HERE.

MNUFC2 media resources available to download:

MNUFC2 Soundbytes

Head Coach Cameron Knowles

Defender Devin Padelford

Cameron Knowles on building off the 2-0 win against Whitecaps FC 2 last week to prep for St. Louis CITY2...

"Defending and attacking are both team events, they're not just a back-four, they're not just a goalkeeper. Scoring goals isn't just in front men. Someone has to put the ball in the net and someone has to make a save in the other end, but it's focusing on the collective. How can we help each other? A lot of what we've done in the last two days is exactly that. How do we help each other in defending moments, how do we help each other create better attacking chances? Because it is going to take a full effort from all our players for 90 minutes."

Devin Padelford on a shutout win at home last week as momentum for Sunday's contest...

"It felt like forever since we had played there [NSC Stadium]. Being on the road the entire month of June definitely wasn't the best, but you've got to do that in this league and you have to do it at every level. I think we did well enough on the road. But coming home was the perfect thing that could've happened for us. Having a really bad result in Texas and then bouncing back like we did, I think if we can just kind of see what we did in that game [versus Whitecaps FC 2] and add a little bit more, I think we'll be golden - keep going on that momentum."

Devin Padelford on how the backline and defense builds off a clean-sheet result...

"It's just always having that trust in each other and a lot of communicating. Everything through the back is just communicating everything out, being aware of where things are, when to go, when not to go, when we're stepping or not stepping, I think it's just that communication piece. If we have that dialed to a point where we can, like we did against Vancouver [Whitecaps FC 2], and we're all willing to go for it, we're all in to trust each other, I think that's when we're able to get the shutouts like we did."

MNUFC2 takes on St. Louis CITY2 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota. The game starts at 8:00 p.m. CT, with tickets available here. The contest can also be viewed by streaming at www.mlsnextpro.com.

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