Say what you will about Leagues Cup; it’s been nothing if not exciting. Your Loons enter the final game of Phase One in fourth place, with the knockouts well within their sights. There’s a world in which MNUFC advances with a loss, a draw, or a shootout win, but let’s look at the best-case scenario. A big win would put the Loons on seven points with a big goal difference. That wouldn’t guarantee advancing, but it would be as close as they can get.
The visitors, on the other hand, are fighting an uphill battle, as anything less than three points will see them eliminated from the tournament. With just two points from their opening two games, it’s very unlikely that San Luis will break into the top four, even with a big win. If they decide to go for it anyway, they’ll be playing with real urgency and intensity. If not, they might opt to play a bit more relaxed. There’s a lot on the line for both teams in this one, which should make for another exciting evening at Allianz Field.
Atlético de San Luis
Another Liga MX team, another quick bio to introduce you to them. Meet Atlético de San Luis, one of the youngest teams in the Mexican top flight. When Querétaro’s relegation evasion caused a chain reaction of team relocation back in 2013, San Luis FC left San Luis Potosí, and Atlético took their place. For all intents and purposes, they’re the replacement of the team that came before them, but in the eyes of the law, they’re technically a different entity. But this preview isn’t about legal terms; I’ll let you dive deeper into that on your own, you scholar, you.
San Luis has played in the top flight since earning promotion in 2019, right before the relegation freeze in 2020. Since they made it to the first division, they’ve improved steadily, making several playoff appearances and finishing as high as sixth in the 2024-25 Apertura season. They’ve made the most of their time in Liga MX, improving their team steadily with a recruiting strategy that has seen them add experienced players from across South America.
A handful of Brazilians, Uruguayans, and Argentinians round out an otherwise predominantly Mexican roster, and while they aren’t one of the giants of Mexican football, they’ve quietly assembled a capable squad. Brazilian forward Joao Pedro brings years of experience from his time in the Italian Serie A, giving his side some valuable perspective at the business end of the pitch.
Keys to the Match:
Did Anyone Do Their Homework?
In case you haven’t noticed, your Loons have been on fire against their Liga MX opposition, scoring seven goals in just two games. The way that they’re scoring isn’t new (set pieces, transitions), but the ease with which they’re doing it is, quite frankly, a bit surprising. The style of play in Liga MX is much more individually focused, with talented attackers expected to win their 1v1s to create opportunities, and aggressive attacking play often leaving space to play into. I haven’t analyzed every Mexican team, so take this with a grain of salt, but it’s fairly safe to say that most of them haven’t played against a team like MNUFC this season — or maybe ever. The way that the Loons cut through Club América on the counter was indicative of a very disciplined team carrying out an extremely clear game plan, and it showcased how a talented group of individuals working as a cohesive unit can elevate the on-field product. América’s tactical shift at halftime showed that they weren’t prepared for Minnesota United’s style before the match, and they nearly paid the price in the end. Unless someone at San Luis did a little more homework than the Loons’ last two opponents, we’re likely to see another high-scoring outing for the Black and Blue.
We Got Options
We’ve seen a few different looks from the Loons during Leagues Cup. Whether you’re looking at the right wingback spot, the midfield four, or that precious number nine role, Coach Ramsay has options. By rotating capable players each game, he’s not only been able to rest his key contributors, he’s been able to get the best out of them. Bongokuhle Hlongwane has lined up at both RWB and on the right side of the midfield four, and he’s already got two goals to show for it. Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah have traded the nine spot, and both have found the back of the net. Wil Trapp, Owen Gene, Robin Lod, Joaquín Pereyra, and Carlos Harvey have all cycled through the midfield spots, and each one has made a positive contribution during their time on the field. The center backs have rotated; the wingbacks have rotated; everyone but Dayne St. Clair has rotated, giving the squad so many options. The increased versatility and dependability of the players in this squad has seen the club shift from having a capable starting eleven to having a consistently threatening lineup and bench, and that’s a winning combination. Expect to see a few more changes in game three of Phase One (that sounds like something from a sci-fi movie to me), even if that just means a few of the same faces in slightly different places. The best teams in the world have players that understand the assignment so well that they’re practically interchangeable, and you Loons have got some of that magic to them right now.
Pace vs. Precision? Why Not Both?
To build off of the last key, let’s look at that right wingback spot. I personally find it fascinating to watch the differences between Julian Gressel and Bongokuhle Hlongwane, each of whom play the position in vastly different ways. Hlongwane brings his signature pace, making him a counterattacking nightmare for the opposition and allowing him to wreak havoc on Liga MX defenses, as history proves. Gressel, on the other hand, offers some of the best ball delivery in all of Major League Soccer, whether it’s a dead ball or an early, whipped cross. His quality on the ball makes up for the pace deficit between him and Bongi and completely changes the way the Loons approach the game when he’s in. San Luis plays a 4-2-3-1 under manager Guillermo Abascal, and has been attempting to play a more controlled style than most Liga MX teams. To counter this, Coach Ramsay might decide to go with a similar lineup to game one against Querétaro, where Gressel and Bongi both start. With pace in front of precision, the Loons should be able to carve their opponents open in more ways than one, whether San Luis have done their homework or not.
