MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. NYCFC
Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minnesota
05.28.2022 | MLS Week No. 13 | MLS Game No. 14
7:00 p.m. CT (MLS Live on ESPN+, Bally Sports North, The CW - Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)

In their third Wednesday night match this month, the Loons faced the Owls of Union Omaha in yet another battle of the birds for the right to move to the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. MNUFC dominated the possession game with 73% and a multitude of close goal-scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, only one shot from Adrien Hunou made it to the back of the net for the home side and Omaha secured a tight 2-1 win. The Loons will be back at Allianz Field before you can say baconeggandcheese and they are ready for redemption. Facing off against the reigning MLS Cup Champions is a good way to be redeemed. To date, the two teams have met a total of three times, which they have split points evenly with a record of 1-1-1. It has been a busy month for the boys in Black and Blue, but if they can secure one last win before the international break, they will have the chance to climb the ranks in the tightly contested Western Conference. MORE

ADRIAN HEATH ON CARRYING MOMENTUM FROM THE FC DALLAS GAME INTO THIS ONE...

“Well that’s what we have to. Allianz is normally very, very good to us. We’ve had a few games this year that…we’ve lost games that we shouldn’t have lost. If we can play as well as we can, then we give a good account of ourselves at home against anybody. I just want us to continue our league form. I think it’s been really good the last two or three weeks. Probably haven’t have had the points total that we deserve for the performances, but we’re going to have to play well. As I say, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been three years since we last played them and I think they’re a really good team to watch. I’m looking forward to see how we cope with them.” MORE

BRENT KALLMAN ON GETTING THE ENERGY FROM THE HOME CROWD...

“Huge, huge. It’s no secret that winning on the road is really difficult in this league so you have to take care of business when you’re at home. We’ve had a couple slip-ups so far this year, so the pressure is definitely on. We need to start getting three points whenever we’re at home and using the advantage we have with our great crowd.” MORE

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

• DOMINANCE: Since their return from regular CONCACAF Champions League play, New York City FC have been playing like maybe the league’s best team. Their superiority is encapsulated by one simple stat, and it doesn’t involve some of their league-topping offensive stats. City hasn’t allowed a goal in the month of May in MLS, outscoring opponents 8-0 across five games (4-0-1). To go a step further, the outstanding New York defense hasn’t allowed chances totaling greater than 0.8 xG in any of those five games. There’s one thing that may give Minnesota some optimism, though: each of those five games have been against teams currently lower in the standings than Minnesota, who could stand to give City their stiffest test in a month. MORE

FIRST TOUCHES

• Minnesota is 1-1-1 in the three previous matchups, with that most recent matchup being a wild 3-3 draw in the clubs’ only meeting at Allianz Field, the stadium’s first game. That game featured a remarkable five first-half goals.
• The only players who were in the match day squad for Minnesota for that game in 2019 and are currently with the team are Michael Boxall, Abu Danladi, Brent Kallman and Romain Metanire.
• To borrow from Matthew Doyle of MLSsoccer.com: via American Soccer Analysis, Dayne St. Clair is allowing just 0.67 goals per 1 xG this season: if extended for a whole season, this would be the best season in that statistic by any goalkeeper in MLS in the last ten seasons. MORE