NFL
Written By Steve Rogers
MLS Playoffs are here, and the Minnesota United FC, aka the Loons, have managed to hang on to the number six spot. How they got here? Well, after a slow start, they played with their hair on fire for the better portion of the year. Then near the end of the regular season, they started to slip and almost fell off altogether, but they hung on and, in the last game of the year, knocked off the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0. In doing that, they accomplished several things locking in the sixth seed and eliminating two of the biggest threats to the Loon’s postseason aspirations. That game was at home at Allianz field and set an all-time attendance record of 19,941.
What’s next for United FC?
What: MLS Cup Playoffs Mn United FC @ FC Dallas
When: Monday October 17, 2022 @ 8:30pm
Where: Frisco, Texas @ Toyota Stadium
How to watch: FS1, FOX Deportes, 1500 ESPN
So, the bracket is set, and the three-seed FC Dallas is hosting the six-seed MN United FC. The FC Dallas club secured 53 points during the regular season. They finished with a record of 14-9-11 (W-L-D). Their top scorers are 21-year-old USMNT member Jesus Ferreira with 18 goals he started in 29 games. He also had six assists. Paul Arriola added ten goals and seven assists, also having started 29 games. FC Dallas has a dominant defense that allowed only 37 goals all season. That doesn’t happen without some stellar play from the goalie Maarten Paes. FC Dallas is back in the Playoffs after missing them last year. This makes Dallas a dangerously balanced team that can beat you with their offense, defense, or a combination of both.
Let’s talk about the road team, but our home squad, the Minnesota United FC, aka Loons. The Loons finished the year with 48 points and a regular season record of 14W-6D-14L. The Loons really defined riding the waves of the long season. They started the year from May through June by losing seven out of 10 games. Then they flipped a switch and couldn’t lose, putting together nine wins over a 12-game span. That level of performance proved to be short-lived, as the Loons finished the year losing five of their last seven. Probably the biggest reason for the up-and-down play is the injuries Bakaye Dibassy went down with a ruptured quadriceps tendon and missed the final seven games. He will also be unavailable for the playoffs. Hassani Dotson suffered a torn ACL and was lost for the year. The top scorers for the Loons are Emanuel Reynoso with ten goals and 11 assists, Luis Amarilla had nine goals and five assists, and Franco Fragapane added seven goals and three assists.
On paper, these two teams are a close matchup for the most part, not just because they both have 14 wins but were only separated by 5 points. FC Dallas scored more goals than United FC. Both teams scored 46 goals during the regular season. The big difference is the goals against the FC Dallas club only surrendered 37, and the United FC gave up 51. That’s the biggest key factor for this match is goalkeeping. Maarten Paes had eight clean sheets on the year, and Dayne St. Clair had five. It will take a complete team effort by the Loons to come out on top of this one. Make sure to tune in Monday night to find out if the Loons can stay in the hunt for the cup! As always, scarves up Minnesota!
