Fresh off arguably its best outing of the season, the Minnesota United back four will have to quickly adjust to life without Francisco Calvo this weekend against Sporting Kansas City. But, as defender Michael Boxall takes the captain’s armband, the Loons believe they have the right man to lead them moving forward.
As Calvo prepares to step onto soccer’s biggest stage, MNUFC has tasked Boxall with filling the leadership void. The New Zealand international is more reserved than the vocal Calvo, but his consistency from week to week is a shining example for his teammates to follow and is what made him an easy choice to captain the Loons in the Costa Rican’s stead.
“Some people are very vocal and get after people that way and others lead by example by the way they play, the way they tackle and the way they defend,” Head Coach Adrian Heath said. “Boxy is one of those guys.”
Sunday night’s match will be Boxall’s first time wearing the armband for Minnesota, which is an honor and a responsibility he does not take lightly.
“When you come in to any team you want to earn your teammates’ and the coaches’ respect,” Boxall said. “This is the epitome of that. To get the nod from Adrian means a lot.”
Though Boxall does not forecast Calvo’s absence requiring any major defensive adjustments — joking the only difference will be not seeing any centerbacks bombing forward and doing Maradonas in the middle of the field — he will be tasked with incorporating either Brent Kallman or Wyatt Omsberg into the backline in an already imposing road environment in Kansas City.
Easing the transition is the return of defender Tyrone Mears after a two-month absence. Mears was integral to last week’s standout defensive effort against the Impact. He locked down star midfielder Ignacio Piatti as the back four kept the Loons in the game early, providing the platform on which the 2-0 win was built.
“I love playing beside Ty,” Boxall said. “He is a class player and does his job so well. He is never caught out of position and one-v-one he will never get beat. Down that side, we were pretty solid (against Montreal) and matched up well with them.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: MARKING IN MIDFIELD
Heath said Minnesota United’s back four was the “best they have been” in keeping a clean sheet against Montreal, but Boxall noted the defense’s success started in the midfield with Ibson and Rasmus Schuller playing tight against their Impact counterparts.
“It starts off with Ibson and Rasmus,” Boxall said. “When the midfield in front of us is tight on the opposition’s midfield, it makes it predictable for us. When you’re reading off of what they give you, that is what makes it easiest. When all of that comes together we are going to get a clean sheet and we should get a lot more going forward.”
Controlling the midfield will be vital on Sunday. With 24 goals in 13 matches, Sporting Kansas City boasts one of the highest-scoring attacks in MLS and its potency is anchored by its three hard-working midfielders, led by Ilie Sanchez. MNUFC will again have to get bodies on the Spanish No. 6 and limit his touches and space in midfield in order to disrupt SKC offensively and avoid a repeat of last season’s 3-0 setback at Children’s Mercy Park — which Heath called the most disappointing effort of his Loons tenure.
“We need a really improved performance because if not the result will be exactly the same,” he said.
