Minnesota United’s seven-game unbeaten streak came to an end last weekend with a loss to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Minnesota started off strong, but Colorado’s high press kept the Loons pinned and unable to get their fullbacks up the pitch. In the last minute of extra time, Colorado inched ahead with a goal from Braian Galvan, making the score 1-0 at the half. As the second half began, Minnesota cleaned up their act a bit. Colorado quickly picked up their game and found themselves battling with the Minnesota’s defense to notch another one. In the 72nd minute, Colorado had a corner kick that Tyler Miller saved, but the highlight of this play was Franco Fragapane’s slide and header to save the rebound shot. Just 10 minutes later, Colorado found Andre Shinyashiki in space to chip in another goal, making the final score 2-0.
“I don’t think we started bad. At all,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “I thought we finished bad. We didn’t start bad. We ended bad. Didn’t have enough threat going forward. All evening. But, no. It certainly wasn’t the start.”
As training picked right back up after the tough loss, the Loons have been seeing the positives in losing a couple of days’ rest.
“It’s definitely benefitted us,” said defender DJ Taylor. “Obviously everybody came in not happy to not be on vacation. They know the mentality of what coach wants and we’re here to get results. I think it brought us together a little bit. When you grind together, guys come closer.”
On Monday, Minnesota announced that one of their homegrown players, Patrick Weah, is joining Real Betis for a two-week stretch to train with the first team and work with their coaching staff.
“We thought in this period of time where we haven’t got a second team, we haven’t got the opportunity to give these guys an opportunity,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “This has been going on for maybe six months so it’s picking the right chance. We thought it was a good opportunity for him. He’s not playing here, and I think it’ll do him good to go and see the demands and level of professionalism you need if you’re going to be a professional and I think it’ll be really good for him.”
With Weah in Spain and the team focusing on their training sessions, the team is ready for their next match this Sunday against Seattle Sounders, especially after having time for their teammates who played in Euro 2020 to settle back in. It’s now time to focus on what the Loons can do and not what they could have done.
“It’s going to be tough. Seattle is unbeaten still so I’m really looking forward to make them suffer and have the first loss,” said midfielder Robin Lod. “In the playoffs, and in the first game [of the season], I think there was times we played really well against them, it’s just some small details and small mistakes we made that they make us pay. I’m really looking forward for it and I feel confident going into against them.”
