ADJUSTING TO LAFC’S HIGH PRESS
The opening 15-20 minutes of Sunday’s game were certainly not indicative of what was to come in Minnesota United’s eventual rout of LAFC. In the early going, Los Angeles pressed high and firmly pinned MNUFC back into its defensive third, but the Loons adjusted and that change paved the way for the rout to come.
Playing against a high press, Minnesota eventually found ample space to get forward and exploit the LAFC back line on counterattacks. Los Angeles left forwards Christian Ramirez and Darwin Quintero isolated two against two up top and that gave the former all the room he needed to start to create.
“When teams do that they are playing with fire, really,” Ramirez said. “When it is 2v2 up top I am almost decoying to let Darwin be isolated one-on-one and let him beat his man because nine times out of 10 he is going to. It is working, so credit to the guys. Things are going pretty well.”
Quintero got the Loons’ attack going in the 25th minute by running into space on a counter, holding up in the box and patiently picking out a wide open Rasmus Schuller and his team never looked back after that. Quintero finished with a goal and a pair of assists in the convincing win.
“Darwin is amazing when he gets the ball and goes at defenders,” said midfielder Miguel Ibarra, who notched a goal and an assist. “They were pushing on us a little bit. We got them on a counter and a little mistake and were able to finish the opportunity. When we’re finishing like that it helps us out a lot.
“We have the offensive pieces to do that every game,” Ibarra added. “Now we are all clicking. Now we have Christian back scoring his goals, Darwin is scoring his goals, so everybody is flying right now. The whole team is full of confidence.”
CHRISTIAN BEING CHRISTIAN
After the game, Ibarra spoke with longtime MNUFC teammate Brent Kallman and made an observation that bodes well for the red-hot Loons moving forward.
“Christian is scoring Christian goals again,” Ibarra said.
After going without a goal in four-straight matches, Ramirez has three in his last two. Ramirez, Quintero and Ibarra are all clicking at the same time and not so surprisingly, Minnesota has looked more dangerous than it has all season over its current three-game win streak. On Sunday against LAFC, it got to the point where the Loons looked likely to score every time they got forward.
The increased chemistry has been evident between Minnesota’s attackers and it is paying off for Ramirez on the stat sheet.
“I am starting to find my spots and guys are finding me,” Ramirez said. “Early in the season, I was in those same spots and those crosses that Miguel hit today didn’t come or I was marked by someone. Now, since Darwin is playing and opening things up, Miguel is making runs and opening things up and Ibson is getting in the box, it has freed me up and it has been good.”
