This weekend finds your Boys in Black and Blue going all the way down to… Canada? Yep. Turns out, Saint Paul has a full degree of latitude on Toronto, meaning Minnesota’s got even more of the tough northern attitude than the Reds. We also have more players on the Canadian national team, so do with that what you will. Saturday sees MNUFC playing another interconference road match, this time at BMO Field, with the Loons looking to add another result to a six-game streak and Toronto desperate for a win.
Run of Form
Minnesota United FC (4-1-2)
Run of Form: W-W-D-D-W
Six consecutive games undefeated, third in the Western Conference, fifth in Supporters’ Shield standings. Not a bad start at all for your Loons. The sheer consistency and discipline of Coach Ramsay’s 5-3-2, the impressive depth of the midfield and defense, and the dynamic striker duo of Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi are proving to be exactly the combination Minnesota needs to succeed. With 14 points through seven games, this is the best the Black and Blue have ever started a regular season, and the momentum of two decisive victories in a row should bode well going into Matchday 8.
Toronto FC (0-4-3)
Run of Form: D-D-L-L-L
Here’s the glaring fact: In seven matches, Toronto hasn’t won once. However, their last two games have given them results in the form of draws against some pretty prominent clubs. A 0-0 against Vancouver could be written off as two Canadian clubs being kind to one another, enjoying the power of friendship and the beautiful game, but I can’t say the same for a tight 1-1 against Inter Miami in which Lionel Messi and Federico Bernardeschi each snagged a goal in first-half stoppage time. Now the question is whether these results are the build-up to a victory or just a lucky break. Has Toronto finally found their groove, or will the Loons leave them in the dust this weekend?
Keys to the Match:
Sustained Second Half
We’ve seen some phenomenal performances for the first 45 minutes of play in several of Minnesota’s games so far, but between that Kansas City comeback and a hang-on-for-dear-life final few minutes against NYCFC, it seems the biggest issue right now for the Black and Blue is maintaining their level of energy and intensity for the full 90. Minnesota has tended to fall into a low-block approach after taking the lead, operating with the ball even less in the second half. Ramsay has also been conservative with substitutions since the SKC match, and despite an effective stretch of games, scores have been a bit too close for comfort. If the Loons can leverage that talent on the bench again to further the lead rather than fearing a lapse from fresh faces, the final whistle will start to feel like more of a decisive victory than a relief.
Black & Blue Balance
Minnesota is balanced from the top of the field to the bottom, giving Ramsay some flexibility in the starting lineup and options on the bench. We’re seeing nothing but consistency from our strikers, great playmaking from the midfield, and a backline that would make any security system jealous. On the other hand, Toronto’s roster has been built around the twin pillars of Lorenzo Insigne and Bernardeschi since 2022, sacrificing depth in favor of a couple of superstars. A large part of the club’s lack of success has stemmed from this pair of DPs not living up to expectations. Insigne, the second-most expensive contract in the league (only behind Messi), notably sat out the first four games before suiting up. His assist on Bernardeschi’s goal against Miami was some of the most impressive play the club has shown all season, begging the question: Is Insigne’s return what Toronto needed to kick back into gear? Either way, Toronto’s lack of balance hopefully means a good opportunity for the Loons to focus on conversion, letting the reliable backline trio hold down the fort while the others push up and take advantage of a Canadian side that has focused the majority of its power in two very specific spots.
The Fraser Forecast
Following another lackluster campaign for TFC in 2024, Toronto parted ways with John Herdman, making way for the return of Robin Fraser. After a stint as Toronto’s assistant coach from 2015–2019, he’s back at the helm, and he basically needs to be a miracle coach worthy of an inspirational 2000s sports movie for this team to work. While he did turn the Rapids around in 2020, this Canadian side doesn’t have quite the same fresh talent on its roster. The club’s starting formations have seen a lot of shifting so far as Fraser tries to lock down an effective system, but without a win to Toronto’s name, it seems the solution has stayed just out of reach. The constant tweaking of the lineup, paired with the high-end talent of Insigne and Bernardeschi, does mean that Toronto is a bit unpredictable, as evidenced by their recent draws against two of the league’s elite teams.. The Loons will have to stay on their toes and potentially take some risks of their own to navigate an opponent hungry for a win.
