Welcome to First Touches, where the Loons have a double game week against opponents currently occupying Western Conference playoff spots. They open up with a midweek trip to Los Angeles, for their second meeting of the year with the Galaxy, a team they are more similar to than you might think.

Stats and Notes

• This will be the second meeting between Minnesota and the Galaxy this season, with the two clubs drawing 1-1 at Allianz Field in May.
• Both goals in that initial matchup came after the 80th minute: Sacha Kljestan scored an 83rd minute penalty for the Galaxy after a Michael Boxall handball in the box, but Robin Lod scored an 87th minute equalizer from a DJ Taylor assist.
• The Galaxy come into this match sixth in the West with 24 points; Minnesota sits 12th, but remain just six points back of Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles has lost three home games so far this season; that’s tied for most of any Western Conference team.
• Minnesota and Los Angeles have similar statistical profiles in terms of goals; they’re two of the five teams who have scored fewer than 20 goals in the West, and two of the eight to have allowed fewer than 20 goals in the West; only Minnesota, the Galaxy and Columbus fit in both categories in all of MLS.
• The Galaxy have struggled since the international break; they’ve played just twice, drawing 1-1 with Portland and falling out of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 defeat to the USL Championship’s Sacramento Republic.
• Lod and Chicharito lead their respective teams with six goals apiece on the season.
• Sega Coulibaly has the sixth-highest pass completion percentage (89.9%) in MLS this season (min. 400 minutes); Joseph Rosales is just behind him in eighth (89.5%).
• Dayne St. Clair’s 76.4% save percentage ranks third among MLS goalkeepers (min. 400 minutes).
• Emanuel Reynoso still leads the league in duels, with his lead now stretching to almost 100.
• Minnesota is one of four teams remaining in MLS who have not had a player sent off this season.
• The Galaxy as a team have an 84.4% pass completion percentage on the season, the second best in the league.

Minnesota Connections

• Oniel Fisher played for the Galaxy in 2021, and now plays for Minnesota.
• On the other side, Raheem Edwards played for Minnesota in 2020, and now plays for the Galaxy.
• Chase Gasper was traded from Minnesota to Los Angeles earlier this season.
• Rayan Raveloson plays with Romain Metanire for the Madagascar national team.
• Jorge Villafaña was with the Portland Timbers in 2014 and 2015 when MNUFC Assistant Coach Sean McAuley and MNUFC2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles were on the coaching staff.

MATCH INFO

LA Galaxy vs. MNUFC
Dignity Health Sports Park | Carson, CA
06.29.22 | MLS Game No. 17
9:30 pm CT (MLS LIVE on ESPN+, Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW-Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)