They shoot for the stars down in Houston, and next Wednesday, the Dynamo will be visiting one. Your Loons are hosting Ben Olsen and company for their trip to the North Star State, and between international absences and the inevitable passage of time, this rematch is shaping up to be vastly different from the first fixture in May.
Minnesota United (8-4-6)
Run of Form: L-W-D-D-W (All Competitions)
The double-edged sword of time off has cut both ways for the Loons, who lost a crazy match to San Diego last time out. That loss ended a five-game unbeaten run that started right after the loss to Houston in May, and while one loss certainly doesn’t entirely take the wind out of this team’s sails, it’s always easier to get going again at the start of the next match when you’ve got positive momentum right behind you. So, if I had to sum up MNUFC’s current form, I’d say that while it’s a tad choppy, it’s choppy with a positive bent. They’re not coming into Wednesday’s game at their absolute best, nor their worst. Between Kelvin Yeboah getting back on the scoresheet and the low likelihood of another player scoring from half-field, last weekend’s loss wasn’t a total momentum-stopper.
Houston Dynamo (5-8-5)
Run of Form: L-L-W-D-L (All Competitions)
Houston has, uh, been playing the last few weeks. That’s about all I can say for La Naranja, who just suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of … Montreal. And it was at home. That was preceded by a 3-1 home loss to SKC. A single loss to one of the league’s worst teams is demoralizing. Two in a row, though? That’s enough to make you look in the mirror a little longer than usual. Sure, a full-strength Houston beat MNUFC last time out, and they weren’t even in great form back then. But this match feels different. This time, the Loons smell blood in the water.
Keys to the Match:
There’s No One Quite Like Jack
International duty and MLS go together like oil and water. Sure, you can put them in the same container, but they’re just not going to mix. Minnesota United fans have grown to understand the interesting relationship between cheering for your favorite players to succeed on the international stage while missing their contributions at the club level at the same time. Houston fans aren’t total strangers to the concept, but their current squad isn’t the most internationally accomplished group they’ve ever had. However, their talisman, Jack McGlynn, is currently away as he tries to win the Gold Cup and cement a spot on the USMNT, and they’re feeling his absence big time. Without him on the field, set pieces are half as dangerous, service into the box is half as good, and belief seems to be operating at around, you guessed it, half capacity. There is no like-for-like replacement for Mr. McGlynn, so trying to plug someone else into his position simply won’t yield the same results. I wouldn’t be surprised if Olsen opts for a slightly different tactical setup for this one to compensate for his big hole. Perhaps a more defensive-minded 4-3-3 or even a 4-4-2 diamond. Otherwise, it could be another long 90 minutes for the Dynamo.
Business as Usual
Previously at Allianz Field, we saw a confounding own goal, a remarkable half-field strike, an almost-saved penalty, and more. I’ve said it before, but I have to say it again: The match against San Diego was absolutely nuts. Every now and then, a game comes along that coaches decide to leave out of the film room. To my eyes, last weekend’s match was one of them. Instead of dwelling on anomalies and fortune, the Loons need to shake that entire match off and move forward. Erase it from the memory, focus on the next one, and play the style that serves them so well in slightly less insane games. This squad has proven to be quite resilient all season long; the last thing they need right now is to turn Wednesday’s match into a revenge rebound. I know I’ve used this quote before, but Ted Lasso is life, so let’s punctuate the point with his wisdom: Be a goldfish.
Testing Depth
Last match, we saw several of the Loons’ depth pieces get meaningful minutes. Owen Gene started alongside Wil Trapp, Wessel Speel manned the goal, and with a result still in reach, Darius Randell made his MLS debut. It was an occasion that gave fresh faces a chance to shine, and it introduced an intriguing possibility for the Black and Blue: Can they find more difference makers on the bench? With the one-two punch of Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi splitting time, the Loons have had at least one easy option to bring quality off the bench. Now, though, with a thinner squad, they need to find a few more impact subs that can throw their own unique wrench into a match. Whether that’s Hoyeon Jung coming into a game and connecting the field, Randell coming on and generating chances with his 1v1 skills, or Sang Bin Jeong using that speed of his to wreak havoc on a tired defense, the Loons need to find a way to change games in the final stages, and it needs to have a cutting edge to it. Pleasing style is fine and dandy, but if they aren’t able to find a consistent end product available on the bench, the busy stretch ahead could get very difficult.
