Major League Soccer returned to the Twin Cities on Saturday, as your Loons earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps. As far as nil-nil games go, this was among the more exciting to watch, with a Berhalter-less Whitecaps side struggling to find their way through a resurgent, fresh looking Black and Blue. All-in-all, it was a well-earned point that showcased new faces, new approaches, and a promising step forward for the home team. 

With a slightly adjusted starting lineup, the Loons took to the pitch with a noticeably different approach. The change to a 5-3-2 shifted the numbers up top, putting the onus on Kelvin Yeboah and Mamadou Dieng to create space, run the channels, and release the Loons’ attack. Attacking midfielder Joaquín Pereyra was given license to roam behind them in the lone number 10 role, bridging the gap between his strikers and the double pivot of Wil Trapp and Owen Gene. This subtle shift made all the difference for the Loons, allowing Dieng and Yeboah to serve as pacey hold-up men to give the rest of the squad time to move forward and break up Vancouver’s spells of possession. 

These changes were apparent early on, with Dieng putting in a noteworthy performance from the very start. His decision-making, sharpness, and speed made him the perfect complement to Yeboah up top, with the two working off each other naturally. Several early chances went begging, but the signs were promising for the Black and Blue. 

As expected, Vancouver maintained a majority of the possession in the opening 45, forming a smothering bowl shape around a compact MNUFC side in an effort to play through the hosts. The Loons responded in typical fashion, alternating between a solid mid-block and a very effective low block as needed. Whenever they got the opportunity to slow the game down and send a ball into a dangerous area with a free kick, they took it, sucking some of the wind out of Vancouver’s sails and keeping the visitors from finding the rhythm they wanted. 

The second half saw the match shift once again, with the visitors making a few key substitutions at the break. The introduction of midfielder Ryan Gauld gave the Caps an injection of creativity in the middle of the park, but not enough to break down a typically stubborn Loons backline. After weathering a mild storm of pressure, the hosts used their counter attack to establish possession in the final third, rather than going for goal right away. This return to hold-up play kept them from getting too tired, and once again interrupted Vancouver’s rhythm at the perfect time. 

Chances continued to fall Dieng’s way, and with the introduction of Tomás Chancalay, the Loons looked the more likely side to find a late winner before the final whistle. Alas, it wasn’t to be, and the spoils were split in what was more of a chess match than a track meet. 

Both the result and performance were improvements upon last week’s return to action, and several more players made an impact. Dieng put in his best shift since joining the Black and Blue, and probably deserved a goal for his efforts. The MNUFC debut of Peter Stroud saw the midfielder put in a solid shift in the middle of the park, where he provided stability and composure with the ball at his feet. Jefferson Diaz’s return from injury came with several impressive tackles, and the late addition of Carlos Harvey proved once again that this team’s defensive depth is capable and reliable. 

The Loons now sit in 10th in the Western Conference following this result, with 23 points. They’ll be staying in Minnesota for their next match against San Diego next Saturday, August 1, at 7:30 p.m. CT. Grab your tickets now, or tune in on Apple TV to make sure you don’t miss a minute of the Black and Blue’s return to action.