The return of First Touches looks forward to Allianz Field’s second game this week, as D.C. United makes a trip over from the nation’s capital to battle against Minnesota United, fresh off their 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

• With Wednesday evening’s draw, Minnesota is on a four-match unbeaten streak; this ties their season best, which took place over the season’s first four matches.
• D.C. also secured a draw on Wednesday evening, a 2-2 match in Washington against Columbus.
• The Loons draw combined with other results pushed them up to fifth in the West, ahead of Dallas on season wins. They remain just two points back of both Nashville and Salt Lake for further ascension.
• D.C., meanwhile, has the league’s lowest point total at 18, and the league’s second-worst goal differential at -14. They’ve also played one fewer match than any other team in the league, and two fewer than Minnesota.
• The twin United's have met four times in MLS play, with the home team winning all four matches. D.C. has never scored a goal in Minnesota.
• Minnesota’s opening goal on Wednesday marked the first own-goal in their favor of the 2022 season.
• The 39 goals D.C. has allowed on the season is tied for the most in MLS with San Jose.
• Minnesota’s three yellow cards on Wednesday pushed them into third in the league with 55; only Portland and Houston have more.
• D.C.’s 73.8% passing on the season is third-lowest in the league; Philadelphia (71.8%) and New York Red Bulls (70.0%) are lower.
• D.C. has also attempted the fewest passes of any team in the league, regardless of position on the field.
• Taxiarchis Fountas of D.C. is one of just seven players in MLS with ten or more goals this season; his goal, D.C.’s first on Wednesday, was his tenth of the season, and fifth in his last four games.
• Fountas is one of just three players in MLS with more than one goal per 90 minutes played and more than five goals scored (Dejan Joveljic and Héber); Fountas has played more than 300 minutes more than either other player, and has started more games than the two combined.
• With four saves on Wednesday, Dayne St. Clair maintained third place in MLS in total saves made.
• Emanuel Reynoso is third in MLS in passes completed in the attacking half of the field, and maintains his significant league leads in successful dribbles and duels.
• Steve Birnbaum of D.C. leads the entire league in passes intercepted with 40; Minnesota’s leaders in that stat are Bakaye Dibassy (32) and Wil Trapp (30).
• Birnbaum has played every minute of every game for D.C. this season; no Minnesota player matches this feat, with Dibassy, St. Clair and Michael Boxall all missing games this season.
• Robin Lod has completed 29 of 37 passes over 30 yards this season (78.4%), the best completion percentage for that variety of passes on the team.

MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS

• Andy Najar and Kervin Arriaga played together for the Honduran national team in the most recent World Cup qualifying cycle.
• Oniel Fisher played for D.C. United in 2020.
• Bill Hamid and Wil Trapp started two friendlies together for the United States national team in 2018.
• Adrien Perez and Tyler Miller played together for LAFC in 2019.
• MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee was on the D.C. United coaching staff from 2014 to 2016.
• MNUFC Technical Director Mark Watson played 11 matches for D.C. United during the 2001 season.
• Chris Odoi-Atsem and Dayne St. Clair were teammates at the University of Maryland in 2015 and 2016.
• Donovan Pines and St. Clair played for Maryland in 2016 and 2017.
• Jacori Hayes played for D.C. United’s U23 team in 2015.
• Ola Kamara played with Wil Trapp and Ethan Finlay for the Columbus Crew in 2016. They were joined by Niko Hansen for the 2017 season.
• Jon Kempin was on the Crew’s roster with Trapp and Hansen for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

MATCH INFO

Minnesota United FC v. D.C. United

Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minnesota

Saturday, July 16 | MLS Regular Season - Game #21

7:00 pm CT (MLS LIVE on ESPN+, Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW - Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)