October 1, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – The Loons lost a tough game on the road to D.C. United on Wednesday. Despite their best efforts and a PK save from Tyler Miller, the final score ended as 3-1, favoring the Black and Red instead of the Black and Blue. Looking ahead, the Loons have another crucial game on the road this Saturday against FC Dallas. Lately, FC Dallas have struggled to gain traction with their five most recent games ending in three losses and two ties. However, the Toros are not about to go down without a fight. Despite not securing a win in their last five games, they have managed to score in all but one game, tallying a total of seven goals. With the Loons now in seventh place, just above the playoff line, they will need to make sure that business is taken care of on Saturday.
Training Assets available to download:
Head Coach Adrian Heath
Midfielder Wil Trapp
ADRIAN HEATH ON COMING BACK FROM THE LOSS TO D.C. UNITED
“Well, we have to react. We are at that stage of the season where every game is really, really important. As I said after the game on Wednesday night, we weren’t good with the ball and we were probably even worse without it. So that’s not going to be good recipe for a good performance and it wasn’t a good performance. We have to put it behind us and move on. [Saturday] is a big game for sure.”
WIL TRAPP ON FACING DALLAS ON SHORT REST
“Once again, whenever you have short weeks like this, it’s about recovery right? Getting guys ready to play again is never easy but at the same time, we’ve rested a couple guys in the midweek. It’s understanding that every point coming now is important. Every away game, every home game is points that we need to capitalize on to move up the chart. For us, it’s an opponent we’ve played a couple times, one home and one away, and I felt like the last time we played them away we had a plethora of opportunities to win the game. [Dallas] is a little low on confidence at the moment but at the same time, it’s a situation where they have guys that are playing for contracts, and that’s always a dangerous combination.”
THE OPPOSITION
The Loons have already faced their next opponent, FC Dallas, two times this year. The first time they met, the Loons secured a 1-0 win at home while the second round ended in a 1-1 draw in Texas. Overall, the two teems have played each other a total of 11 times with an even five wins, five losses each and (coincidentally) the draw from June breaking the tie. Both teams will be coming into the game this Saturday having experienced a 3-1 loss on Wednesday. However, it should be noted that FC Dallas had the home field advantage on Wednesday and will have it once again on Saturday against the Loons. Currently, FC Dallas sit in 11th place with a total of 27 points, 10 points behind MNUFC in seventh with 37 points to their name. Despite their point differential, it is crucial that the Loons take this game seriously with the rights to a home field advantage in the postseason slowly slipping away in a tightly contested Western Conference.
FIRST TOUCHES: Defender Bakaye Dibassy’s header in the 40th minute against D.C. United was his first for the club in the regular season. He scored goals in the playoffs last year against Sporting KC in the Western Conference Semifinal and against Seattle in the Western Conference Final.
PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:
Minnesota United
OUT:
Dotson – Knee
Gregus – Ankle
McMaster – Thigh
QUESTIONABLE:
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