With its second match this week and another to come on Saturday — plus a forearm-length list of injuries — Minnesota United found itself pressed to try something a little different when the team arrived at Banc of California Stadium to face expansion side LAFC. Instead of their customary 4-2-3-1 formation, the Loons rolled out in a 4-3-3. This brought three new midfielders into the mix (Collin Martin, Harrison Heath and Maximiano) as well as changing the role of danger man Darwin Quintero a bit. The change in personnel and tactics, though, could not ultimately stand up to one of the league’s hottest teams at home as a pair of goals in the first half proved too big of a hole for MNUFC to climb out of as LAFC came away with three points in a 2-0 win.
“I just thought they were two poor goals for us to concede,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “They did not have to work hard enough. They’re winning headers in the box and then we’re not ready for the second wall because we did not expect him to win it and then we did not deal with it. I thought the first one was a soft one as well. With the team we had out tonight, with no forwards, it made it a mountain to climb after.”
The first 10 minutes of the match had the teams feeling each other — and the woodwork — out. In the sixth minute, forward Diego Rossi fired a left-footed shot from near the edge of the box that looked for all the world like it was heading to the far post but instead hit the post. Barely a minute later, midfielder Darwin Quintero made a lovely and dexterous run through several LAFC defenders before striking his own shot that banged off the left post.
As the teams settled in, it became clear that the tactical shift of moving to the 4-3-3 was helping the shorthanded Loons maintain their defensive shape, particularly through the midfield. But it was also clear that the players on the field wanted for a bit of chemistry and understanding. Passes were often a bit off or a bit slow, and MNUFC struggled to get the ball into the final third.
On the other side, LAFC did a much better job of getting the ball over the top and into dangerous positions. In the 31st minute their work paid off when Rossi got the ball to midfielder Eduard Atuesta, starting in just his second match since signing with LAFC at the end of February. The 20-year-old was patient with the ball near the penalty spot, waiting for defender Francisco Calvo to overcommit before firing it on goal and giving LAFC a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota United responded to the goal well, redoubling its offensive efforts, but an underplayed ball up in the air in the box left the defense on the back foot when forward Latif Blessing won a header over Calvo and forward onto midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye’s foot. He found the back of the net immediately off the volley and doubled the home side’s lead.
“I think [Calvo] should have gone and attacked the ball,” said Heath. “It is as simple as that. It is what it is and we will move on.”
An excellent chance right before the half came to naught for the visitors. In the 43rd minute, midfielder Miguel Ibarra pulled goalkeeper Tyler Miller out of the face of goal to chase him down the right side. Ibarra squared up on the tight shot down the sideline and fired it in, but defender Walker Zimmerman was there to head it over the endline. LAFC headed to the break with a 2-0 lead.
The second half found LAFC in the driver’s seat and MNUFC unable to make themselves a threat. One of the major positives for the Loons, though, was the play of midfielder Maximiano, who started his first match for the team since coming over from Brazil earlier in the season. The 23-year-old showed flashes of defensive potential in the #6 role with several strong tackles and timely interceptions before he was subbed off in the 64th minute for Rasmus Schuller.
“I just don’t as a group think we defended the goal very well all evening,” said Heath. “I was very impressed with their front three; great movement and great pace. At this moment, I didn’t feel, unless Darwin could create something, we had anybody to match what their front three was doing. That made it difficult for us. With that pace, you’re frightened of getting too tight and then they come off and they play and the midfield three are all really comfortable on the ball. It was a tough night for us. We did have some opportunities in the first half. Darwin hit the post. One of them had to go in for us to keep the momentum in the game.”
Minnesota United next returns home to face San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, May 12 in a match that kicks off at 1:00 p.m. CT at TCF Bank Stadium. Pre-match coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Go and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.
Lineups
Minnesota United FC Starting XI: GK Bobby Shuttleworth; D Carter Manley, Michael Boxall, Francisco Calvo, Jerome Thiesson; M Maximiano (Rasmus Schuller 64’), Collin Martin (Frantz Pangop 76’), Harrison Heath; F Alexi Gomez, Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero
MIN Unused Subs: GK Matt Lampson; D Brent Kallman, Wyatt Omsberg; M Collen Warner; F Christian Ramirez
LAFC Starting XI: GK Tyler Miller; D Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey (Omar Gaber 65’); M Eduard Atuesta (Calum Mallace 90’), Benny Feilhaber, Latif Blessing, Mark-Anthony Kaye (Lee Nguyen 82’), Carlos Vela; F Diego Rossi
LAFC Unused Subs: GK Charlie Lyon; D Dejan Jakovic, Tristan Blackmon, Joao Moutinho
Match Events
Goals
31’ – Atuesta (Rossi, Vela) – LAFC
37’ – Kaye (Blessing) – LAFC
Discipline
15’ – Calvo (YC) – MIN
33’ – Martin (YC) – MIN
34’ – Gomez (YC) – MIN
40’ – Atuesta (YC) – LAFC
62’ – Maximiano (YC) – MIN
90’ – Heath (YC) – MIN
