MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS FC
TCF Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, Minnesota
09.22.2018 | MLS Week No. 30 | MLS Game No. 29
7:00 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North Plus, FOX Sports GO, MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2018 Records:
POR: 13-8-8, 3-6-5 on the road
MIN: 9-16-3, 8-4-1 at home

Following a welcome road draw in Utah that came perilously close to netting them all three points instead of just one, the Loons return at long last to TCF Bank Stadium after last playing there on Saturday, August 4. With six games remaining and four at home, MNUFC has much to play for with the playoffs still in play and a lot of decisions to be made as the team looks further ahead to 2019 and the opening of Allianz Field. Head Coach Adrian Heath and his men will take the field with an eye on felling the Portland Timbers, a squad that looked to be making a second-half run with a 15-game unbeaten streak but have recently faltered a bit. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North Plus, streaming on FOX Sports Go and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

TICKETS

In this league, a point on the road is nothing to sneeze at. But when it appeared for a brief moment in the 87^th minute that midfielder Miguel Ibarra had put the visitors on top with a second goal, it looked like MNUFC might just come home with something exceedingly rare for the squad this season: a road win. When the goal was disallowed after video review showed midfielder Darwin Quintero offside, the teams more slumped to a finish than anything.

“We definitely had the momentum and then we had to stop for a little bit and wait for the call,” said Ibarra. “That is soccer. That is what we have to be ready for. Unfortunately we did not get the three points, but we got one and in the second half we came out and showed we were hungry to get the three points.”

Heath echoed that sentiment, saying, “I was delighted with the second half performance. I think there are certain things that are expected of players on the road. You know you are going to have to start well, you know you are going to have to be up against it at times and you have to be resolute. I thought we were too passive in the first half in everything that we did. I don’t think we moved the ball quick enough and I don’t think we closed the ball down quick enough.

“We had a few words at halftime, we got a reaction out of the players and I thought we were excellent in the second half,” he continued. “It was one of those that you’re coming off and thinking you could have gotten three points there. Obviously there is the controversial issue with the goal. Clear and obvious, it is not really clear and obvious if it takes you 10 minutes to decide if it is clear and obvious.”

The double-game week saw recent arrival Fernando Bob make two starts alongside his fellow Brazilian Maximiano in the holding midfielder role and also the first start for midfielder Romario Ibarra, who was pressed into service as a forward after Abu Danladi went down with a leg injury early on. The Ecuadorian, who recently featured for his country’s national team in friendlies against Guatemala and Jamaica, showed off some attacking flair and pace, ending the game with two shots and one on goal after making the shift.

Saturday will show whether forward Angelo Rodriguez, who picked up a knock in the midweek tilt against Washington D.C., will be ready to go, but it appears that Heath is keen to see more from the Maximiano and Fernando Bob pairing, especially given that the team will have to make a decision on whether or not to retain the former at the end of the season.

“I think they have done well enough to keep their place and move on,” he said. “When you look at the pair of them, they have had a stop-start and certainly Maxi has since he’s been with us. To get him some minutes and have a look at him, he is here on loan until the end of the season and we have to make a decision on him. Bob has been excellent. When you consider he has not played in two or three months, for him to come in and contribute like he has bodes well for his moving forward.”

Both he and captain Francisco Calvo, who played at left back in a four-man backline after returning from a one-game suspension, picked out several searching balls forward that helped circumvent Real Salt Lake’s midfield and find space in behind. That kind of play could prove instrumental against a Portland Timbers side that relies heavily on the defensive work of holding midfielder Diego Chara but also has recently asked him to contribute more offensively. Although the Timbers have endured some rough losses recently, they held off the Columbus Crew for a 3-2 win at home on Wednesday as they fight for their playoff lives.

“They are hungry for three points,” said Ibarra of the visitors, who are currently fourth in the Western Conference and looking to put some space between themselves and Real Salt Lake and Seattle below them. “They are going to come out fighting and trying to get those three points. I know every team comes in here and says ‘Oh, we’re playing Minnesota we can get an easy three points.’ But we are a strong team at home and we are going to be ready.”

After the Timbers, Minnesota United will next face NYCFC in a game at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, September 29. That game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. CT with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North Plus, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United FC
OUT:
M – Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction)
M – Ethan Finlay (right ACL tear – out for season)
M – Kevin Molino (left ACL tear – out for season)

QUESTIONABLE:
D – Jerome Thiesson (right ankle sprain)

Portland Timbers FC

OUT:
D – Roy Miller (right thigh injury)
GK – Jake Gleeson (bilateral tibial stress fracture)

QUESTIONABLE:
GK – Jeff Attinella (hamstring injury)

FIRST TOUCHES

• Miguel Ibarra was drafted by Portland in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, but was not signed by the club.
• MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee was on Portland Timbers’ coaching staff from 2009–2013.
• Collen Warner played college soccer for the University of Portland from 2006–2009.
• Lawrence Olum played for the Minnesota Thunder in 2009, scoring five goals in 28 matches with the club. He also played alongside Kevin Molino with Orlando City SC in 2011.
• Jeff Attinella was selected by MNUFC from Real Salt Lake in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft but was later traded to Portland. He also played against Minnesota during his time in the NASL.
• Francisco Calvo, Julio Cascante and David Guzman played for Saprissa in 2016.
• Carter Manley and Jeremy Ebobisse both played for Duke University in 2014 and 2015.
• Darwin Quintero and Cristhian Paredes were teammates on Club America in 2017.
• Quintero, Diego Chara and Dairon Asprilla are all natives of Colombia.
• Alexi Gomez and Andy Polo have both featured for the Peru national team.
• Michael Boxall and Bill Tuiloma are both members of the New Zealand national team.
• Darwin Quintero provided his 10th assist of the season in the 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday, September 15, setting a new club single-season record. He also set a single-season record for shots taken, with 61 so far in 2018.
• Quintero is the first MNUFC player to get double-digit goals and assists in an MLS season. He accomplished this feat in just 21 appearances.
• Miguel Ibarra is now tied with Ibson for the most MLS appearances with MNUFC at 56. Ibarra holds the career record across competitions at 58.
• Romario Ibarra made his first start for the Loons against Real Salt Lake.
• Both MNUFC and Portland have score five goals total in the past two meetings between the teams.
• This is Minnesota’s first home game since its 2-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC on August 4. It has played five consecutive road games, taking two points in that stretch.
• MNUFC is currently on a five-game scoring streak at home. It has scored 15 goals over that stretch.
• This is Portland’s second game of the week. They played at home against Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday in a 3-2 win.
• The Loons played the Timbers at Providence Park in their inaugural MLS game. Portland won the game 5-1 after a late flurry of goals.
• Portland has a storied history playing against Minnesota clubs. The Timbers faced the Kicks in the original NASL and the Thunder in USL and played the Stars in 2010 before joining MLS.
• Marc Burch (1A), Sam Cronin (1G), Abu Danladi (1G), Ethan Finlay (1G/1A), Carter Manley (1A), Kevin Molino (1G/2A) and Quintero (1G) all have career points against the Timbers.
• Quintero’s first MLS goal came against Portland in a 3-2 loss on April 14.
• The last time Portland visited Minnesota, both teams ended the game with 10 men. Danladi and Sebastian Blanco were ejected in the second half of the game.
• The Timbers have conceded an own goal in each of their past two meetings with the Loons.
• Diego Valeri recently became the third player in MLS history to have four seasons with double-digit goals and assists.
• Portland’s victory over MNUFC in April kicked off a 15-game undefeated streak. The longest undefeated streak in league history is 19 games — a record set in 2010 by FC Dallas.
• Blanco and Ibarra are one caution away from accumulation suspensions.