First Touches makes its return trip home to St Paul this week, as Minnesota United welcomes FC Cincinnati to the friendly confines of Allianz Field. The Loons look to put Sunday’s loss in the rearview and pull a U-turn back onto the road that’s paved in victory. Here’s your on-ramp to a little place called pre-game analysis.

Stats and Notes

• Minnesota United is undefeated in three total MLS matchups against Cincinnati (3-0-0).
• However, the Loons have scored steadily fewer goals in those three matchups. After the first game between the two in June 2019, still Minnesota’s record for goals scored in one match (7), the Loons scored two and one goal, respectively, in the teams’ two games in October 2020.
• Cincinnati enters the game after a 2-1 win over Toronto FC, their first win since March 19. Cincinnati and Toronto play a second consecutive game this Wednesday, May 4 (6:30 p.m. CT) before Cincinnati comes to Minnesota.
• Minnesota’s loss to Los Angeles FC on Sunday night snapped a two-game winning streak for the Loons in MLS play.
• Through Minnesota’s first eight league games of the season, their results came in pairs: two draws, then two wins, then two losses, then two wins.
• Cincinnati has been more successful on the road (2-2-1, 7 pts) than at home (1-3-0, 3 pts) this season.
• The 17 goals allowed by Cincinnati are tied for fifth-most in MLS so far in 2022.
• Even with Sunday’s defeat, Minnesota’s eight goals allowed are tied for sixth-fewest in MLS.
• Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has 34 key passes, the most of any individual player in the league so far.
• Brandon Vázquez leads Cincinnati with five goals on the season, tied for fourth in the early-season Golden Boot race. Vázquez has already surpassed his 2021 total of four goals, his previous career best.
• Emanuel Reynoso’s next assist will be his 21st career assist in regular season MLS play for Minnesota, which will set a team record. He is currently tied for that record with Darwin Quintero.
• Reynoso would also become the sixth Loon with 10+ goals and 10+ assists for the club with two more goals, joining Robin Lod, Kevin Molino, Ethan Finlay, Miguel Ibarra and Quintero.
• Lod will be the fourth Loon with 20 or more regular season goals with his next goal, joining Quintero, Molino and Christian Ramirez.
• If Lod plays 45 minutes or more in Saturday’s game, he will surpass Molino in minutes played for the Loons, moving into 11th place on the career list. If you positioned those top 11 as a lineup: Bobby Shuttleworth; Romain Métanire, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Chase Gasper; Francisco Calvo, Ján Greguš, Hassani Dotson; Ibarra, Lod, Finlay.
• Dayne St. Clair’s next shutout will be his tenth career; Tyler Miller holds the team record with 12.

Minnesota Connections

• Luis Amarilla and Álvaro Boreal played together for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina in 2018-19.
• Dominique Badji and Abu Danladi played together for Nashville SC in 2020 and 2021.
• Alvas Powell and Wil Trapp played together for Inter Miami in 2020.

MATCH INFO

Minnesota United FC vs. FC Cincinnati
Allianz Field | St Paul, MN
05.07.22 | MLS Game No. 10
7:00 pm CT (MLS LIVE on ESPN+, Bally Sports North, The CW - Twin Cities, SKOR North)