Minnesota United FC vs. Orlando City SC

Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minnesota

04.15.23 | MLS Week No. 8 | MLS Game 7 

7:30 pm CT (Tickets | Watch)

Minnesota United is back at home and ready to battle it out with Orlando City within the glorious embrace of Allianz Field. The Loons kicked off the 2023 campaign with Formula 1-level velocity, however, their breakneck speeds appear to have overheated the engine just a touch, as they had a bit of a Fire problem last match. By the time the squad broke out the extinguishers in the second half, it was too late to staunch the flames, and a valuable lesson replaced the three points MNUFC hoped to gain. With this season’s first loss in the rearview, the Loons turn their focus forward to this match-up with Orlando as an opportunity to tweak any missteps and get back on the winning track.

Minnesota United
Run of Form D-W-D-W-L

The Loons had their first hiccup of 2023 last Saturday, but the thing about hiccups is it allows you to take a pause for a deep breath and figure out how to correct the situation. Even in a losing effort, there were some bright spots amongst the flock – one of which was Kervin Arriaga. The tenacious Honduran international towered over the midfield, constantly winning tackles and balls out of the air and notching his first goal of 2023, a missile of a free kick that left the Chicago goalkeeper's gloves singed. Sang Bin Jeong made his MLS debut last weekend, and his speed on the ball and ability to get into dangerous spaces were immediately on display, a promising sign as the Loons look to add even more athleticism on the attacking front. Sang Bin may just be that spark MNUFC need to pull together an already-speedy offense and start finishing more opportunities.

Orlando City SC
Run of Form D-D-L-W-L

Orlando City has had a lackluster start to their season, leaving the club stuck in the middle of the table with an even 2-2-2 record. They have shown some positives, as witnessed in their 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union. However, dropping points at home to a beatable Charlotte FC squad has Orlando fans scratching their heads. The inconsistency displayed by the Lions has them struggling to move up the table, but they do still have some weapons that MNUFC will need to watch out for. Midfielder Martín Ojeda has a command over his wing position, showing both his knack for getting in dangerous areas and his ability to score, with two goals to his name this year – one of which came within the first two minutes of the Philadelphia match. Mauricio Pereyra is also a solid midfielder, currently leading the team in assists. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese will be very difficult to get past, as he continues to show the form that snagged him the 2022 MLS Save of the Year.

Keys to the Match

There’s No Place Like Home

Allianz Field is known for its amazing atmosphere, which makes it even more surprising that Minnesota United has yet to collect three points at home this season. This humble author would be remiss if it wasn’t mentioned that the first game had wild field conditions and the second was a squad with seven missing starters, but I digress. Orlando is certainly no stranger to spoiling a good home environment, having beat Philadelphia Union 2-1 in Subaru Park, and the Floridians will be extra antsy to find their footing after a few disappointing results. However, with MNUFC looking to outdo their strong 2022 8-5-4 home record, and with this being the first home match of the season without any major hindrances – the Black and Blue certainly have a slight edge. While the Loons are technically unbeaten at home, they are eager to taste the elation of a home win and coinciding chorus of Wonderwall for the first time in 2023.

New Guy on the Block

Sang Bin Jeong made his MLS debut this past Saturday and his presence was certainly felt. The South Korean international has a very dynamic style of play, and in the 30+ minutes he featured, he was able to show how dangerous he can be on and off the ball – giving the Chicago defense a good deal of grief as they pushed to hang on to their lead. Sang Bin appears to be a great addition, and Loons fans will all be watching with bated breath as his time with MNUFC continues to unfold. Jeong prefers the winger position, but where he will fit into the squad ultimately remains to be seen. Will he be a starter? And if Adrian Heath plans to start him on the wing then will Franco Fragapane or Bongokuhle Hlongwane shift to a different position or start on the bench? Or, will Heath try him out at other attacking positions to see if his skills are best used elsewhere on the pitch? It’s difficult to fully speculate this early on, but nevertheless, healthy competition amongst the starting XI is great for team motivation, and you can never have too many offensive weapons in your arsenal. 

Off to the Races

Orlando is known for their good starts, having found a lot of success in the early minutes of both halves. Minnesota United can expect a punchy game immediately from the whistle, as shown by the two goals Orlando was able to notch against Philadelphia Union before the tenth minute of play – both generated by lightning-fast transitions to Martín Ojeda that had him scoring on one and assisting on the other. MNUFC will need to be ready for those quick overhead balls, especially in the early stages of either half. Of the five goals Orlando has scored this season, two are the aforementioned strikes against Philly, and the other three were notched within the first 15 minutes of the second half – more specifically, one in the 53rd minute (D.C. United) and two in the 56th (New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC). There will be no time to heat up during this game, it will be all guns blazing right from the whistle. Minnesota United will need to be on their toes and in flying form before the blue carpet is finished rolling out.