NFL
Entering the 2023 MLS Season, Minnesota United has a solid foundation to build upon looking at the MLS Cup. With Forwards like Paraguay native Luis Amarilla, Argentinians Franco Fragapane and the savvy Emanuel Reynoso, and the FINISHer Robin Lod, MNUFC can put significant pressure on opposing defenses. They were only 8th ranked in the Western Conference in goals scored (48). But, the Loons were also tied for 8th in the conference for goals allowed (51). With those stats, they achieved the 6th seed in the playoffs last year but lost in the first round to Dallas in Penalty Kicks.
Dallas has been a worthy adversary for Minnesota United as they went 1-2 in total season play. That one victory could be viewed as an off night for Dallas. They were 3/19 of on-target shots, with 2 of those being saved by MNUFC goalkeeper Dayne St.Clair. Dallas also dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball 67% of the match. MN United also was issued five total yellow cards. From that alone, you can tell it was a physical match. Dallas will be Minnesota United’s first opponent for the season opener on February, 25th in this brewing rivalry.
Dallas lost in the semifinal round of the MLS Cup Playoffs to Austin FC. Dallas is not the only team the MN United was able to compete with on a high-level last season. Here is a list of notable tied matches last season and where the opponent ended up at the end of their seasons:
MN United 1-1 Nashville SC. Nashville earned the 5th seed in the west and lost in the first round to the LA Galaxy. MN United also tied with the Galaxy 1-1 and the Galaxy earned the 4th seed and lost to LA FC in the conference semi-finals. MN United tied with LA FC as well and they ended up with the number one seed in the west and ended up winning the MLS Cup by defeating Phillidelphia who represented the Eastern Conference as the number one seed. Coincidentally, Minnesota tied with Phillidelphia Galaxy last February 1-1.
Over those four tied matches, MN United averaged 49.25 minutes of possession against four of the best teams in the MLS. MN United also averaged 32.5% for shots on target with 3.75 shots per game being saved by those top teams.
MN United’s defenders with the most minutes played are Michael Boxall (2,790min), Kemar Lawrence (2,305min), Bikaye Dibassy (2,256min), DJ Taylor (2,087min), and Brent Kallman (1,395min). Those five defenders have an average age of 29.8 years (DJ Taylor is the youngest at 24 years old). So, the concern is, if are we going to see this group of high-volume players increase their defensive ability against these best teams in the league over the course of the season. That is why MN United sought out and signed 21-year-old defender Mikael Marques to a three-year deal.
Head coach Adrian Heath said, “Mikael [Marques] comes highly recommended. Several big teams in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were starting to take an interest but we got him through a good contact of ours who felt Mikael had so much upside…It’s an area of the field that we’ve been trying to get more depth. Bear in mind, the three mainstays have been Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, and Bakaye Dibassy, who suffered an injury last year, so we felt as though we needed depth there. He’s 21, incredibly athletic, has played fullback, played right side in a three-man backline, played the right side of a four – there’s a lot of versatility there. We’re excited to get him in and we feel he’s only just started. There’s a lot of growth in him.”
MN United is taking the proper steps toward becoming a contender in the MLS, not just the Western Conference. With one of the most electric home crowds in the league, these players will get that much-needed jolt once they play their first home game on March 11th versus the New York Red Bulls.
