Hello again, you lovely Legion of Loons! Well, here we are, folks. The end of the regular-season journey. Or, as it's known by its league-branded moniker, Decision Day. All the drama of a soap opera…but make it fútbol. For the Loons of 2024, the end of the season looms just a little lighter with a playoff berth already in hand. While this year may be lacking in that specific type of anxiety, there is no shortage of uncertainty surrounding the Loons’ matchup with a St. Louis CITY side that is in the role of spoiler after having its playoff hopes dashed away for this season. But, holy ravioli, will it be an important match for MNUFC if they want to sit out the midweek Wild Card matchup to begin their playoff chase. No matter how it shakes out after Decision Day is all said and done, the Loons will once again be part of this year’s postseason dance party, and that totally wails...but, right now, let’s talk about what it’s going to take to get themselves in one of those far more attractive fifth, sixth, or seventh seeds…so…
| Run of Form
Minnesota United FC (14-12-7)
Run of Form: W-D-W-W-L (MLS Regular Season)
With the last international break of the regular season now in the rearview, the Loons are rested and rolling into their matchup with CITY, a club they beat soundly in St Louis to the tune of 3-1 back on September 14th. Now, CITY comes to the friendly confines of Allianz Field to face a Minnesota United club that is unbeaten in four matches, and with a positive result of some sort on Saturday night, could find themselves ending up anywhere from fifth to eighth in the Western Conference. But, a loss and a win by Vancouver, and the fellas would find themselves playing in the Wild Card round. What a time to be alive!
St. Louis CITY SC (8-12-13)
Run of Form: W-L-W-W-L (MLS Regular Season)
The sophomore slump is real in St Louis, following what was an impressive inaugural season that saw them dancing near the top of the Western Conference for the duration. But, CITY has shown they still can find the net with a 3-0 over Houston and a 3-1 victory over Sporting KC two weeks before that, and the Loons must not look beyond this one just yet. Whether St. Louis is playing for the honor of the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth seed finish in the West, playing spoiler to the Loons hopes of avoiding the Wild Card round is something they would probably be just fine with.
|Keys to the Game
Expose The Leaks
CITY keeper Roman Bürki is pretty good…ok, he’s really good, but that doesn’t mean the center of the St. Louis' defense hasn’t had its issues in keeping him clean this season. And, with that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coach Ramsay looking to Kelvin Yeboah to crash the center of the box more often (if that’s possible with the scoring tear he’s been on) for more opportunities to keep Bürki on his toes all night.
Test Their Patience
While CITY continues to have a style that relies on playing more vertically and finding success on the counterattack, the coaching change to John Hackworth has shown a bit more patience in certain sequences. But, with CITY focusing more on ball possession from time to time, it may be advantageous for the Loons’ defensive mids, namely the likes of Trapp and Dotson, to amp up the pressure in those instances where St. Louis decides to slow down their tempo. And, if the Loons’ starting XI can collectively work together to force CITY into miscues, scoring opportunities will come knocking.
Start Fast. Rest Easy.
Yep, it’s me, Captain Obvious, here. But, in the position the boys find themselves in, essentially controlling their own playoff-round destiny, pouncing early wouldn’t just be a benefit to the nerves of supporters everywhere. It would also be extremely advantageous for the playoff run if Coach Ramsay can get some of his starters off a little early and give some run to the likes of Tani Oluwaseyi, Teemu Pukki, Devin Padelford, or others that are likely candidates to play a bigger role when considering who will sub on during the postseason.
