New York City FC vs. Minnesota United FC
Yankee Stadium | Bronx, New York
06.29.17 | MLS Week #18 | MLS Game #18
6:30 p.m. CT (My29, MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2017 Records:
MIN: 5-9-3; 0-6-2 on the road
NYC: 9-5-3; 5-1-2 at home

After a busy week at home where it claimed four of six possible points, Minnesota United heads to the Big Apple for a Thursday night clash with New York City FC. Still searching for their first road win, the Loons will have a tough task ahead of them, as NYCFC are tough to beat in the house that Jeter built.

The match kicks off from Yankee Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT. Coverage starts at 6:00 p.m. on My29 and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

Led by World Cup winner and Spanish legend David Villa, NYCFC has been dominant at home. It is undefeated in its last four matches at Yankee Stadium, with just one loss there all season. The club is also nearly impossible to keep off the scoresheet. Outside of an opening week stumble in Orlando, NYCFC have found the back of the net in 16 consecutive matches.

Minnesota Head Coach Adrian Heath knows that this will not be a walk in the park for the Loons.

“I think they have a good team,” he said. “Obviously, they’re really well coached. We know it’s going to be difficult, I think, in attacking positions with [Maximiliano] Moralez if he’s fit, certainly David Villa. It’s going to be difficult for us. They’ve got really good attacking pieces.”

Minnesota’s defenders will have their hands full containing the high-powered attack of NYCFC that’s riding high after defeating rival New York Red Bulls. The Loons will be looking for a lockdown performance after giving up four goals in two matches last week. Most of those goals were caused by slow starts, as the team seems to come alive in the second half — something the club has been working to change.

“We don’t have to wait for them to score two goals before we wake up,” said defender Francisco Calvo following last week’s draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Despite early match struggles, the Loons’ offense has been keeping them in matches with goals from all over the pitch. A pair of goals from defenders last week showed they have plenty of options outside of the top four. The aggressive press by the fullbacks to provide distribution, and fearless attacking moves by center backs have allowed MNUFC to load the box and pull apart defenses to create scoring chances.

Space will be at a premium on Thursday night on the smallest pitch in MLS. Though the width is the same as at TCF Bank Stadium, the Yankee Stadium setup is 10 yards shorter, which can allow for extremely quick transitions but not a lot of room to work with. However, this is a situation Head Coach Adrian Heath is prepared for, having coached Orlando there since it and NYCFC joined the league in 2015.

“A lot of people don’t like going to New York City. I love going there,” said Heath. “You know it’s quite unique in the fact being that it is a baseball stadium, albeit one of the most famous in the world. I think a lot has been made about the size of the field. Is it ideal? No. But I think people make excuses.”

Heath has his focus on issues closer to home, like the loss of stalwart defender Brent Kallman to injury over the weekend. He will have to make some further adjustments to a backline that has already been altered following Marc Burch’s surgery. This has allowed Kevin Venegas to settle in and prove himself in two promising performances. Jermaine Taylor came into Saturday’s match for Kallman, and played well to keep Vancouver off the board in the second half.

Minnesota United’s first match on the hallowed ground of Yankee Stadium will certainly be a special match, especially for Loons players new to MLS, but the evening will be that much sweeter for the side if they can walk away with all three points.

Tune in for the Thursday night tilt at 6:00 p.m. for pre-match coverage on My29 and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN ahead of the 6:30 p.m. kickoff. MNUFC returns home on July 4 to host Columbus Crew SC. The club will be celebrating its Salute to Freedom, honoring current military members, veterans and their families. For tickets and more information, visit MNUFC.COM.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United FC
OUT: M - Bernardo Anor (Left Lower Leg)
OUT: M - Thomas de Villardi (Left Achilles)
OUT: D - Joseph Greenspan (Concussion)
OUT: D - Marc Burch (B Athletic Pubalgia)
OUT: D - Vadim Demidov (Left Knee)
OUT: D - Brent Kallman (Right Knee)
OUT: D - Abu Danladi (Right Thigh)

New York City FC
OUT: F - Khiry Shelton (Hamstring)
OUT: M - Maxi Moralez (Calf)
QUESTIONABLE: D - Ronald Matarrita (Hamstring)

DISCIPLINARY REPORT

SUSPENDED: n/a
SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT CAUTION: Thiesson, Kallman (MIN); Moralez, White (NYC)

FIRST TOUCHES

• Minnesota is 1-3-0 against Eastern Conference teams. NYCFC is 2-1-1 against teams from the West.
• Christian Ramirez and David Villa are among the top 10 MLS players in both goals and shots on goal.
• Bobby Shuttleworth is tied for third in MLS with 58 saves.
• David Villa leads MLS with 70 shots taken.
• Villa is one of four players with three multi-goal matches this season.
• The pitch at Yankee Stadium measures 110 yards by 70 yards, the smallest playing surface in the league.
• Minnesota has committed the fewest fouls (170) in MLS.
• After this match, Minnesota will not play on the road until August 20 when it will travel to Seattle.
• Christian Ramirez (9G/1A) and Kevin Molino (5G/5A) have each contributed to 10 goals this season.
• Abu Danladi returns to the squad after serving a one-match red card suspension he received on June 21 against Portland.
• NYCFC’s only home loss in 2017 came on April 23. It fell 2-1 to fellow 2015 expansion club Orlando City SC.
• Maxi Moralez and Miguel Ibarra were on Club Leon for the 2016-17 season.
• Ronald Matarrita and Johan Venegas spent two years as teammates on Alajuelense starting in 2013.