MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
07.03.2021 | MLS Week No. 11 | MLS Game No. 11
7:00 p.m. CT (The CW Twin Cities, Bally Sports North, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)
2021 Regular Season Records (W-L-D):
SJ: 3-7-1 (1-3-1 on the road)
MIN: 4-4-2 (3-2-0 at home)
Fresh off collecting seven points in eight days, Minnesota United return to Allianz Field to face the San Jose Earthquakes. A draw with FC Dallas on the road and a pair of clean sheet wins against Austin FC at home and Portland away have the Loons feeling confident behind the sterling production of recent acquisitions Adrien Hunou and Franco Fragapane. The forward and midfielder combined to score in the second minute against the Timbers and have rarely looked less than dangerous since the return from the international break. With Jan Gregus and Jukka Raitala coming back from international duty and hopes for Robin Lod and Romain Metanire to be back from getting their green cards, MNUFC should be at or close to full strength as they square off against the Quakes — a team they have not lost to in two years and currently in the midst of a seven game winless streak.
THE OPPOSITION
On Wednesday, the San Jose Earthquakes parted ways with general manager Jesse Fioranelli after an underperforming start to the season. After losing the season opener to Houston on the road — hardly an unexpected result given how challenging BBVA Stadium is historically for visiting teams — the Quakes ripped off three wins in a row, scoring eight while only allowing three goals. Since that point, though, the wheels have come off spectacularly, with the team only managing a scoreless draw in Austin to go along with six losses in their last seven. While young striker Cade Cowell has flashed potential early and leads the team in both points and assists, the defense has been unable to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard, surrounding 15 goals in that seven-game span. To say they’re desperate for a win would be an understatement, and it’s not wise to underrate the power of desperation.
ADRIAN HEATH ON FOUR SHUTOUTS IN THE LAST SIX
“I don’t think it’s just the defense. We’ve started to defend from the front, we’ve had a really good shape behind the ball and have made it difficult for people to play. There’s no secret to it. If we get people in the right spots and defend like it means something to us, we’ll keep clean sheets. Obviously Tyler Miller\] has been exceptional. When we’ve needed him on a couple of occasions, he’s come up with big, big saves, but that’s what you expect. Overall, the defensive mindset has been terrific.” **_[MORE_**
TYLER MILLER ON SAN JOSE
“They play a unique style. They play man-to-man across the entire field, which no other team, that I know of, does that. It’s a team that we have a good history with, and leading into this game, we’re on a good run of form right now but every game presents its new challenges and its unique opportunities for us to step up to the level and raise our game. Yes we have been unbeaten in six games but I still think there’s moments in games where we can improve and win games a little bit easier and make plays a little bit easier on ourselves. We just need to keep improving in training and approach San Jose how we’ve approached the last six games and we’ll have a good opportunity to win.” MORE
STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW
THE CEILING IS THE ROOF: As a team that began the season with four losses and has now gone unbeaten in six, you don’t have to tell Minnesota United about streaks and how they can turn on a dime. Much of what has gone into the unbeaten streak is the performance of forward Adrien Hunou and winger Franco Fragapane, but getting Bakaye Dibassy back is likely just as much of a key. Game by game, the chemistry on the pitch is building and that in turn is building the solidity and consistency. A good team is a lot like a good sauce: it’s not just the ingredients you put in, it’s about the patience to let them simmer and thicken. Tyler Miller’s excellent performance in goal — including a frankly hilarious 0.33 goals against average — provides the base, but the pairing of Dibassy and Michael Boxall enriches the defensive acumen of the team immeasurably, allowing more leeway for the fullbacks to step up and for Wil Trapp to do more work distributing and for Hassani Dotson to range farther up the field. The frontline’s willingness to do some of the dirty work of defending helps as well. The key question going forward towards the halfway point of the season becomes how good can they be? And maybe just as importantly, are they willing to do what it takes to not just get the win game to game, but to push themselves past their own expectations? If they become content with good enough, unbeaten streaks can turn back into losing streaks in the blink of an eye. MORE
FIRST TOUCHES
- The Quakes recently ended a streak of 438 minutes without a goal when Cade Cowell scored in the 83rd minute of their last game against the LA Galaxy, a 3-1 loss. MORE
