The Loons land back in the Western Conference this weekend for the first of back-to-back home games at Allianz Field, this time hosting FC Dallas in the Black and Blue’s first Texan tussle of the season. Our state birds are pitted against Los Toros, and though I can’t say I’ve got much experience in the arts of bovine battle, I think the Loons are quick enough to keep the bulls scrambling (plus, maybe the offside flag will throw them off).

Run of Form

Minnesota United FC (4-1-3)
Run of Form: D-W-W-D-D

Minnesota is sitting on a seven-game unbeaten streak that’s brought them up to second place in the Western Conference, just behind Vancouver. The Black and Blue have only allowed six goals during this impressive run, keeping four clean sheets in the process. They’ve scored 11 goals in that span, but a scoreless draw against Toronto FC on Matchday 8 made for a frustratingly hard-fought road point. Toronto’s defensive performance on set pieces, combined with their excellence in the air, helped keep Minnesota out of the net on Saturday. The Loons need to prove their capacity for a comfortable win to make themselves at home in one of those top spots, and Dallas, an up-and-down performer in the early-going, may be a great candidate for just such a victory.

FC Dallas (3-3-2)
Run of Form: L-D-W-W-L

Eric Quill’s side has had a fairly average season so far, sitting smack in the middle of the conference standings with an even number of wins and losses to their name. That’s a step up from their performance last year, likely in large part due to a very notable new name on the roster, but they’ll be looking for a bounceback after falling at home to Seattle over the weekend. Minnesota is undefeated at home, and Dallas is undefeated on the road with two wins and two draws, having performed better away from Toyota Stadium thus far. So… something’s gotta give this weekend, right?

Keys to the Match:

The Big Names

There are only a handful of players in Major League Soccer who can really get away with going by a single name, Zendaya-style, but Luciano “Lucho” Acosta has the stats to back up the name. He’s undeniably Dallas’ biggest asset, and snagging him in a multimillion dollar deal from FC Cincinnati was a no-brainer. The Texan side’s other major threat is forward Petar Musa, currently tied with Lucho for the club lead in goals with three apiece. It’s still a bit early in the season to really dive into 2025 statistics, so let’s grab some numbers from 2024:

Lucho’s 30 goal contributions tied him for second in the league last year, only behind Messi. His and Musa’s 49 total contributions means that if they’d played together last year, they’d have been one of the more prominent attacking tandems in MLS. However, Minnesota’s backline is one of the best in the league. With Michael Boxall at its center directing players like Díaz, Romero, or Duggan on either side, opposition has to get through a veritable wall every time they even want to think about coming for Dayne St. Clair. Minnesota’s compact defense will force Lucho and Musa to peel back layers of protection before getting within range.

The Dynamic Duo

Let’s compare Dallas’ top two to Minnesota’s own attacking threats, shall we? Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah both established themselves as major players with Minnesota last season, Oluwaseyi back from a loan and Yeboah signed from Italy’s Serie A in February 2024.

Keeping in mind that Yeboah was only around to play nine games with Minnesota, this isn’t at all discouraging. Both of the powerhouse Minnesotan strikers are ahead of the Texans in goals this season, Oluwaseyi at five and Yeboah at four, but even more promising are their double-digit shots on target — a cumulative 23 to Lucho and Musa’s combined 10. Taking into consideration goals per 90 minutes, Oluwaseyi was 10th in the league last year, with Musa and Lucho lagging behind at 14th and 36th, respectively. Yeboah signed too late in the season to be ranked, but his .89 would have put him in fourth.

A Pressing Matter

Minnesota United has put forward a pretty consistent 5-3-2 all season, demonstrating what’s easily one of the most disciplined playstyles in the league, but that strategy is largely defensive. The Loons rely heavily on counterattacks and set pieces for goal opportunities, usually opting for less possession. Saturday’s match against Toronto FC saw Minnesota maintain more possession than they have all season, but that didn’t necessarily equate to opportunities. Back home for Matchday 9, the Black and Blue may be looking for a more aggressive approach, whether that comes on the well-timed counter or a more forceful press to open up chances. Dallas has already given up 10 goals this season — this might be the time to push its defense to the limit.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s 2024 attacking numbers were up there with Lucho’s and Musa’s, and last weekend saw him pressing forward more in the first half before being subbed off early in the second half after collecting a yellow card. If the team chooses to be more aggressive on the press, they need to move as one, and utilizing the versatility of the wingers to force that forward movement could be the key.