Hello again, feather-ish friends. Well, here we are once again… another less-than-ideal result out in Seattle. Now, MNUFC must focus their eyes back on the prize when they square off with Liga MX side Necaxa tonight at Allianz Field. While the loss to Seattle stung, the Black and Blue still have the opportunity to secure a berth in the knockout stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup, and a positive result against Necaxa can help set the stage for advancing to the next round. But if the Loons are planning to take care of business this evening, they will need to step up in several ways if they hope to move on, so let’s get into it…

|Run of Form

Minnesota United FC

Run of Form: W-L-D-L-L (MLS Regular Season Competition)

Man, I was really hoping that I’d be starting out this section writing this, but without the quotations: “Well, this is how it feels to get a positive result in Seattle.” For about 85 minutes, it almost looked like we would be able to hang tough and at least get to Penalty Kicks at Lumen Field last Friday, and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair played a big part in nearly making that elusive dream come true. But, after an incredibly costly tackle resulted in a red card for Hassani Dotson, the Loons’ disadvantage would rear its ugly head in those late minutes of the match. That’s when Seattle’s Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock would exploit the Loons’ defensive third, despite Dayne’s best efforts. Obviously, it was a tough pill to swallow, but the opportunity to move on to the knockout stage is still within the Loons’ control, and with a few of their pivotal players returning from injury, they must come away from this match with Necaxa with at least something to show.

Necaxa

Run of Form: L-W-L-L (Liga MX Competition)

After a 2-1 play-in match loss knocked Necaxa out of the Liguilla last season, they responded by adding more young talent to the youth movement that had already been in progress. In comparison to the rest of the Leagues Cup tournament field in 2024, they’re easily the youngest Liga MX side participating. While doubling down on youth has borne some fruit in the early stages of the Apertura, specifically when taking down a quality Puebla side in Week 2, they have been outclassed by both Tigres and Monterrey. But, even if they haven’t quite stacked up to some of the top Liga MX sides and tournament contenders, the energy they bring will be plenty for the Loons to handle come Tuesday night.

|\\ Keys to the Game**

Trapp Game?

And I don’t mean that in a bad way, as the Loons are expected to have Wil Trapp back in the fold this evening after nursing an injury for several weeks. Not having Trapp in the lineup has likely given many, including myself, a new appreciation for all the intangibles the savvy veteran brings to the pitch. After a few weeks of feeling discombobulated in the midfield, it can only help MNUFC’s chances against Necaxa to have his leadership on the pitch again. Not only will Trapp factor into the Loons’ plans, but after being able to practice Monday, there is also a chance we’ll see DJ Taylor and Caden Clark notch minutes too.

Smarter, Not Harder

To say that Hassani Dotson’s red card put the Loons at a disadvantage against Seattle is an understatement. It left the Loons with what felt like a very long 25-minute period to figure out how to hold off a notoriously difficult team. And…well, you know how that went in the end. While plugging players into spots they may be somewhat unfamiliar with is a challenge unto itself, MNUFC needs the boys to play within themselves, both mentally and physically. No doubt, they will miss the aggression that Dotson brings to the midfield against Necaxa, but the roster as a whole needs to be more aware of the consequences that come with showing their physicality. Necaxa is a young, energetic side that can turn big mistakes into big plays, so there will need to be at least some air of caution in the way the boys challenge tonight.

Finnish Heartthrob Returns

While this point shouldn’t be rocket science to determine, the Loons tend to play at a higher level when their All-Star talent is in the lineup. Not having the services of one, Robin Lod, out in Seattle certainly didn’t help the club’s chances. Does it mean they are unable to find positive results when he’s not available? No, but much like his midfield counterpart Mr. Trapp, Lod is a player that makes the “engine” go. He can score, he can find the open man, and he can use his big body to box out opponents when the ball is at his feet. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he’s integral to the club’s ability to make it out of the group stage.