Match Preview - Minnesota United
Game Info
Kickoff: 7:40pm CT
Watch: Apple TV
Location: Allianz Field - Saint Paul, MN
All-Time H2H Record
Austin FC has a 4W 4L 0D all-time record against Minnesota United.
This year, the Loons won the season opening match at Q2 Stadium 2-1 in a game that was not as competitive as the final score indicated.
Minnesota Recent Form
In our match preview article for the season opener against Minnesota, we talked about the tumultuous offseason that the Loons went through and the potential struggles that lay ahead for them. Then they beat the crap out of our favorite team and didn’t look back for the first three months of the season, winning seven of their first 12 matches. That hot start has been enough to keep them in the top four of the Western Conference as we make our way through the early parts of the regular season’s second half, and they’ve done it all without all-star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who was sold to Tijuana in late May.
That sale came nine days after a video surfaced of Reynoso, who was back home in his native Argentina on a midseason unexcused absence for the second time in as many years, showing off a bag of money next to another man with a handgun also flashing a bag of money. Even without the talent of Reynoso commanding the midfield, the Loons have been humming right along. They’re ninth in open play xG and sixth in set play xG. Part of that change is a shift in philosophy, with the new sporting director/head coach tandem of Khaled El-Ahmad and Eric Ramsay bringing a more up-tempo style that has them grouped with teams like St. Louis City SC, DC United, New York Red Bulls and LAFC on a league-wide sequence chart.
The other major factor is stellar play from their remaining top options in an above average roster build. Robin Lod’s return to health has been a breath of fresh air for the Minnesota midfield, and standout play from a number of youngsters like Tani Oluwaseyi (who occupies a supplemental roster slot), Jeong Sang-Bin and Bongokuhle Hlongwane (both U-22 initiative players) has covered up for the absence and subsequent departure of Reynoso and a lack of production from designated player Teemu Pukki.
Despite the hot start buoying their standing in the table, Minnesota has hit a bit of a rough patch in terms of results. They’ve won just once in their last six matches (a 3-1 home victory over Sporting KC) and are coming off a frustrating 5-3 loss at FC Dallas on Wednesday night, a match where they generated twice the xG as their opponents. The Loons are the first team that Austin FC has faced during this busy month for global soccer that is dealing with significant absences.
Austin’s Recent Form
Even with a Minnesota side that will be less than full strength, nobody would blame an Austin fan for failing to have much faith in the possibility of bringing home three points. The team has only been able to grab a road victory once in nine tries this season and that was a last-minute surprise winner by Emiliano Rigoni in Houston back in April. The Verde and Black have only scored four goals in those nine games, the lowest mark in MLS.
Austin will be forced to change things up this Saturday, at least in the midfield. Jhojan Valencia is suspended for yellow card accumulation, meaning that the healthy depth chart of options for the coaching staff is down to Sebastián Driussi, Alex Ring, Owen Wolff and short-term loan agreement call-up Alonso Ramírez. I assume that we’ll see the three first teamers start together, with Ramírez likely making an appearance off the bench, meaning he would be out of loan appearances for the season. In that instance, Austin would have to buy Ramírez from his parent club Atlas FC and sign him to a supplemental roster spot for him to play for the first team again, which seems unlikely.
It's possible that Valencia’s suspension could force Austin to be a bit more attack minded on Saturday. They’ll lose some defensive bite without Jhojan, but they should be expected to move the ball more fluidly in possession without him, considering many teams have begun to leave Valencia yards of space, daring him to step out of his comfort zone.
If ATX can put out a defensive performance even close to what we saw against LAFC in the midweek, it will be a drastic improvement on the last two road matches, which the good guys have lost by a combined score of 7-1. Securing that second road victory in the next two matches to close out the month of June would guarantee the Verde and Black stays above the playoff line by the potential return of Dani Pereira and Julio Cascante from the Copa America. It would also leave just three games until the transfer window opens, when new additions Osman Bukari and Mikkel Desler are eligible to suit up. It’s a tall task facing Austin FC in St. Paul this weekend, but this is MLS. Frequently we see that a lot of these teams aren’t separated by as much as the standings may indicate.
Injury Report
ATX – Julio Cascante (Out – Not due to injury), Dani Pereira (Out – Not due to injury), Jhojan Valencia (Out – Not due to injury)
MIN – Teemu Pukki (Out – Knee), Dayne St. Clair (Out – Not due to injury), Tani Oluwaseyi (Out – Not due to injury), Alejandro Bran (Out – Not due to injury), Carlos Harvey (Out – Not due to injury), Hugo Bacharach (Out – Knee), Devin Padelford (Out – Concussion)
Minnesota Players To Watch
Robin Lod – The Loons all-time leading goal scorer, Lod has been the engine for Minnesota this season. His 15 goal contributions lead the team by a wide margin, even while missing two matches and coming off the bench in two others. He tore up the Austin defense back in February, scoring a goal before being subbed off in the 68’.
Jeong Sang-Bin – The 22-year-old South Korean doesn’t have the most eye popping stats, but as the Verde faithful found out in the season opener, sometimes the stats don’t translate just how big of an impact a player can have. Sang-Bin gave ATX fits earlier in the year and currently sits in third on the team with 19 key passes.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane – We love to talk about Bongy on The North End Podcast. He’s a very fun young player to watch, as long as he’s not bearing down on our beloved Brad Stuver. Hlongwane has only started eight matches this season, but he’s got seven goal contributions, including a goal and an assist on Wednesday in Frisco. He’s going to be the biggest threat to stretch the Austin back line on Saturday.
Austin’s Keys To The Game
Next Man Up – We’re likely to see some rotation from Austin FC in this one. Third game in eight days, missing Pereira, Cascante and Valencia? Get ready for some more Ethan Finlay on the wings, with probable appearances by the likes of Žan Kolmanič, CJ Fodrey and Alonso Ramírez. It’s all hands on deck and for some of the rotational options, it’s time to step up and make an impression with one of the few opportunities left before the transfer window opens.
Set Play – Minnesota has given up the second most xG off of set plays this season. Austin isn’t a team that generates a lot set piece opportunities, but when they do get the chance to whip a corner into the box, sling a long throw to the near post or lob one into the area off a free kick, this is a vulnerable Loons defense prone to giving up good looks.
The North End’s Predictions
ZG – Austin FC 2-1
E – Austin FC 2-0
