MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. D.C. UNITED
TCF Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, Minnesota
07.29.17 | MLS Week #21 | MLS Game #22
7:00 p.m. CT (My29, MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2017 Records:
MIN: 5-12-4; 5-5-2 at home
DC: 5-13-3; 2-8-1 on the road

This Saturday, MNUFC welcomes visiting D.C. United to TCF Bank Stadium for a match that kicks off at 7:00 p.m., presented by Allianz. After a disappointing 3-0 loss to New York Red Bulls last weekend, the Loons will be looking to rally as captain Francisco Calvo returns to the side after an international stint with Costa Rica and newcomers Sam Nicholson, Michael Boxall and Brandon Allen get acclimated to their new team. Pre-match coverage starts at 6:30 p.m. on My29 and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

For any expansion team new to a league, a big part of the learning process is developing the kind of resilience that allows them to bounce back from a loss. Every fan wants their team to win, naturally, but immediate success for new teams is the exception, not the rule. Struggles, setbacks, losses: these things are inevitable and how a team fights through them is massively important to what they eventually become.

“The most important thing is that we come in every day, every week, to try and get better,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “These guys have got a lot of pride. It’s not easy when you’re getting a defeat like we did at the weekend. And I thought the three-nil scoreline flattered Red Bulls a little bit. You know, were they the better team? Probably. Did they deserve to win? Maybe. But certainly it wasn’t a three-nil game. As I said on Saturday, we had some big moments that we just didn’t quite deliver. When we’re in the ascendancy in games, we need to take them opportunities when they come along.”

MNUFC brought in young and pacy winger Sam Nicholson from Heart of Midlothian to help improve its options in the final third and take advantage of some of those opportunities. Nicholson was figuratively (and in some ways, literally) thrown into the fire when he started against the Red Bulls — a sweltering match in the mid-80s with high humidity.

“I’ve never played in heat like I did on Saturday before,” said the 22-year-old Scotland native. “Ever. Like ever in my life. I was struggling with that in a way, because I was a little bit unfit. I think in terms of fitness, like for myself because I have not played in over two months, it’s going to be a process where I may not be at my best for another few weeks. So it was hard, but I think the heat killed it the most for me, because I’m not used to it. I’m used to minus something degrees, so to come out and play in that heat was hard.”

One doesn’t typically think of athletes having to get acclimated to the warmth of Minnesota, but that will be Heath and the training staff’s job for Nicholson, alongside getting him adjusted to MLS play and the hundreds of other little things that come with incorporating new players. There are things that can be done to get Nicholson and also Boxall and Allen humming with the group quicker, but time is always a factor.

“Sometimes it’s just for them to feel comfortable within the group,” said Heath. “You can see that Sammy [Nicholson] has been here longer than Boxy [Boxall], because he had two or three more weeks when Boxy was away with the Confederations Cup. But they're certainly doing well. They’re good guys, good professionals. And I’ve really enjoyed the training this week. I’m pleasantly surprised at how well the players have come back after the defeat at the weekend. It’s never easy to keep that enthusiasm on a Monday after a defeat. We’re getting all our guys back around us, and that will be good for us in terms of team selection.”

That depth will be a welcome change from the previous several weeks when the team had to shuffle lineups as they dealt with absences due to international call-ups and injuries. While defender Brent Kallman’s injury status is moot given his suspension for yellow card accumulation and the team will still be missing Marc Burch, Calvo’s return will be big for the backline and having Jermaine Taylor and Johan Venegas available gives Heath some options he hasn’t had recently. MNUFC will need everything they can muster against a team that’s in many ways been their opposite number in the Eastern Conference so far.

“Whatever team that [Head Coach] Ben Olsen has, they’re not going to come here and lie down,” said Heath. “They’re going to come in and be competitive. It’s strange, because they had the disappointment of the defeat at home. I watched them against Seattle and they were the better team for long periods of the game. And you know, that was a bit of a kick in the teeth for them to lose the game. So they’re at a bit like us, probably playing better than their results. I’ll have a look at this moment in time, but it’s a big game for us and one that we’re going to have to be prepared for because they’re going to certainly be prepared.”

Following their match against D.C. United, the Loons will finish out their homestand against the Seattle Sounders on August 5 at TCF Bank Stadium, presented by Allina Health. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with pre-match coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on My29 and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United
OUT:
M – Bernardo Anor (L Lower Leg)
D – Marc Burch (B Athletic Pubalgia)
M/D – Thomas DeVillardi (L Achilles)
D – Joe Greenspan (Head)
M – Rasmus Schuller (L Thigh)

QUESTIONABLE:
M – Sam Cronin (Neck)
M – Miguel Ibarra (L Thigh)
M – Kevin Molino (L Ankle)
D – Kevin Venegas (R Thigh)

D.C. United
OUT: 
F – Patrick Mullins (knee surgery 6/6, out 6 weeks)

QUESTIONABLE: 
M – Rob Vincent (left knee meniscus)
M/D – Nick DeLeon (lower abdominal strain)

DISCIPLINARY REPORT

Minnesota United
Brent Kallman — suspended for yellow card accumulation

D.C. United
-none-

FIRST TOUCHES

• MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee was on the D.C. United coaching staff from 2014 to 2016.
• Loons Assistant Coach Mark Watson played 11 matches for D.C. United during the 2001 season.
• Sebastian Le Toux and Michael Boxall were on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2012. Le Toux joined Sam Cronin and Marc Burch on the Rapids in 2016.
• Steve Birnbaum, Christian Ramirez and Kevin Venegas played for Orange County Blue Star in 2010. Birnbaum and Ramirez were joined by Miguel Ibarra in 2011.
• Patrick Mullins and Bobby Shuttleworth helped the New England Revolution to the MLS Cup Final in 2014.
• Brent Kallman is suspended this match for yellow card accumulation.
• MNUFC has declined to pick up goalkeeper John Alvbage’s loan option and he will return to IFK Goteborg.
• D.C. has won two-thirds of the Eastern Conference’s MLS Cups.
• Bobby Shuttleworth moved up to third in the MLS save rankings this week, with 70 stops to his credit. He sits just behind D.C.‘s Bill Hamid, who has 73.
• Christian Ramirez has scored in all but one of Minnesota’s wins.
• Both clubs have scored at least three goals twice this season.
• D.C. is the only team in MLS average less that a goal a match (0.86).
• D.C. has the highest average road attendance in the league, with 25,089 fans coming to watch their matches.
• D.C. has the largest lead blown in MLS this season, falling 4-3 to Seattle Sounders FC on July 19 after being ahead 3-0.
• A Minnesota player that was with the club during its NASL era has gotten on the scoresheet in all but two matches that the Loons have scored in.
• 40% of Minnesota’s goals have come in the first 15 minutes of the second half.