As has been the case for the last string of games, there is no questioning the efforts of MNUFC, even when the results ultimately ended up being losses. But, after Sunday night’s 0-0 draw with FC Dallas at Allianz Field, it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to determine why the Loons fell short of finding the win column against the Toros.
SPOILER ALERT: It’s scoring…the answer is scoring.
Coming into this week’s matchup with Dallas, engaged MNUFC fans were quite aware the boys would be leaning on their solid defensive backline and stellar goalkeeping, first and foremost. Creating scoring opportunities off the counter attack was how the Loons could be at their most dangerous, as they showed during their early-season unbeaten run.
To its credit, the MNUFC defensive efforts have held up their end of the bargain, only allowing a total of eight total goals on the season, which didn’t change against FC Dallas, as they held the Toros scoreless for the second time this season. It’s another feather in the cap for the Black and Blue to keep a very legitimate Dallas attacking third in check for a second time in this 2023 campaign.
And, that doesn’t mean the boys weren’t able to create the right chances to hammer one home, but they just weren’t able to get out of their own way when it came to converting those chances. Coach Heath divulged those sentiments in his postgame presser saying, “Obviously it’s disappointing we haven’t scored. You can look at the opportunities that we’ve had. We’ve had probably three, four clear-cut opportunities but pretty much a microcosm of the season at this moment in time.”
Statistically-speaking, the Loons net out with the smallest percentage of ball possession in all of MLS. But, taking a closer look at that category, at least for this season, less ball possession doesn’t necessarily translate to unsuccessful results. In fact, as Taylor Twellmen mentioned during his in-game commentary, the current trend for some of the most successful teams to this point in the season has actually been more in line with the Loons possession percentages, or lack there of.
Beyond ball possession, MNUFC outshot the visitors nine to two, with three registering as on target. Even beyond the shot-on-goal comparison, the Loons held the edge in nearly every statistical category. But, in the end, statistics don’t determine what the end result will be. The numbers that matter in that regard stayed at zero, leading to another disappointing finish for the home team’s attack. However, that doesn’t mean the Loons are willing to settle for scoring in the 2023 campaign being a delicacy.
While this may give the Loons faithful some uneasiness at this point in the season, the lack of goals hasn’t driven Coach Heath to think about hitting the panic button…at least not yet.
“It is what it is. We’ve got to keep showing faith in the players. As I said to the players before, I can’t give them any more confidence than keep picking them and giving them that opportunity. I know, having been through it myself as a striker, the last thing you need is to keep thinking about it. You’ve just got to get yourself in the right spots, keep continually doing things that you know have made you score goals in the past.”
If the issue is indeed more a question of confidence, then there is no magic solution. But, the longer the attack remains stagnant in the scoring column, the more pressure that will be put on the Loons attack to perform as they get into the meat of their season. Coach Heath knows as much, saying “The longer that goes, the more the pressure builds and a bit more anxiety and then you start to overthink it instead of just being free and doing what you’ve always done.”
In the end, a continually sound effort is the only logical answer to breaking the habit. We have the tools. We have the talent. Now, we just got to find our scoring breakthrough, and it’s very achievable.
UP NEXT
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Minnesota United FC
BC Place | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
05.06.22 | MLS Game 10
9:30 p.m. CT (Watch on AppleTV’s MLS Season Pass)
