It doesn’t get much friendlier than that, folks! Minnesota United were kind to their visitors from Germany today, drawing their international friendly with Holstein Kiel 0-0. On a night that was all about testing depth and giving players a chance to shine in a low-stakes atmosphere, many of the Loons’ reserves and second teamers stepped up, holding their own against a team that just finished a season in the German top flight.
The Black and Blue may have had an entirely new eleven on the field, but it was the same product that we’ve come to expect, with some slight adjustments. Assistant Coach Dennis Lawrence — who was given the reins for the day — lined the lads up in a 5-3-2 formation, utilizing a midfield triangle of Samuel Shashoua at the 10, just in front of the double pivot of Curt Calov and Hoyeon Jung. Local boys Loïc Mesanvi and Darius Randell led the line up top, showing a willingness to run and flashes of dynamism with the ball at their feet.
As we’ve come to expect from the Loons this year, they ceded the majority of possession to the opposition, but they never looked uncomfortable. A compact defense made it nearly impossible for KSV to play through the middle, leaving long shots and balls into the box as their primary threats. The Loons didn’t manage many spells of sustained possession, but offered their classic threat on the counter, winning free kicks in dangerous areas and keeping the Germans honest.
A generally back-and-forth first half bled into a very similar second half, with neither team finding the strike they needed to steal the win. A ton of rotation from both teams saw nearly the entire roster get a chance to play, including several Allianz Field debutants for the Loons.
Though scoring opportunities were few and far between, there were several solid performances from the Loons. Midfielder Hoyeon Jung showcased his shifty playmaking ability before subbing off, covering a ton of ground and dodging defenders to connect the field. Kipp Keller likewise did his job well in the middle of the back three before subbing off, stepping appropriately and covering even better when needed. Goalkeeper Alec Smir had a great showing on the night, stopping whatever the visitors managed to get past the back line.
The play of these reserve players demonstrated that the product we see from the first team is more than a style of play, but a club identity that goes from the top, down. Today was a fantastic example of giving young players a chance to shine, and though they didn’t manage to find the back of the net, they proved that things are headed in the right direction around here.
The Loons will be back in action tomorrow — yes, tomorrow — for their USOC quarterfinal match against the Chicago Fire. Come on out to Allianz Field to catch this high-stakes game, and stick around to enjoy some fireworks after the final whistle.
