Injury Updates
OUT:

• M – Bernardo Anor (L Lower Leg)
• D – Marc Burch (B Athletic Pubalgia)
• M/D – Thomas de Villardi (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)

Training Notes

• Both Sam Cronin and Kevin Venegas were back in full training with the team on Friday. Although they’ll remain questionable for the weekend, the team is the healthiest overall it’s been in a long time.
• Jermaine Taylor is back with the squad after a long and successful Gold Cup run with Jamaica, giving the Loons some much needed depth along the backline. He’s provided resilience for the team in spot duty and to close out matches at times this season.

Gaffer’s Quote

Adrian Heath on the benefits of Jermaine Taylor playing well in the Gold Cup: “I think if you were to ask Jermaine one of the issues he’s had over the last year or so, is he’s always been on the bench, and he comes in and he plays for a game. Then he goes back out. And he plays for a few minutes at the end of the game when teams change their shape. And the one thing about players, you need to play regular. And this has been a great little piece for him. And for us, it’s been a blessing in disguise. That now we have somebody who is completely match fit, and obviously has got a lot of confidence from playing so well in the competition.”

Marquee Matchups

• Ibson vs Luciano Acosta: Ibson might be without his partner in the defensive midfield, Sam Cronin, again and Acosta has been the key for D.C. United’s scoring. The attacking midfielder will need to get through the Brazilian’s pestering defensive play if D.C. wants to come away with the result.
• Christian Ramirez vs Kofi Opare: On paper, Minnesota’s star striker and D.C.’s standout center back stack up pretty evenly in terms of height and weight so the physical battle could go either way. Ramirez’s speed and awareness will be a nightmare for a D.C. defense that has allowed 38 goals.

Horseshoe Winners

• Every Friday, the team plays a game called horseshoes where teams of two set up flat cones roughly 20 yards apart. Teammates send lofted passes to each other with the receiver having to settle the ball in one touch before it hits the ground. Closest to the cone wins a point.
• THIS WEEK'S WINNERS: No horseshoes this week, but to close out his last practice with the fellas, John Alvbage notched a win in soccer tennis with Miguel Ibarra.