MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
10.20.21 | MLS Week No. 31 | MLS Game No. 30
7:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North+, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

2021 Regular Season Records (W-L-D):
PHI: 12-7-10 (3-4-7 on the road)
MIN: 11-10-8 (8-4-2 on the road)

On Saturday, the Loons secured three vital points at Q2 Stadium. Sixteen minutes in, Franco Fragapane snuck past Austin's defense to tap the ball in and score what ended up being the lone goal of the game. Additionally, Tyler Miller earned his 11th clean sheet of the season, tying Minnesota United's and breaking his own personal record. The Loons will need to maintain this positive energy and prepare for a quick turnaround for Wednesday at Allianz Field against the Philadelphia Union. In the Union’s most recent game on Saturday, they tied 2-2 against seventh place Montreal. Their game against the Loons will be their third straight on the road and they’ll will need to recover quickly if they want to take home three points on Wednesday. While the teams may not be in the same conference, with the regular season coming to a close, all points are crucial and the Loons will need to come in focused and ready to do what it takes to hold on to their playoff position and secure another win in Saint Paul.

THE OPPOSITION

Currently, Philadelphia sit in third place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. The Union are undefeated in their last six games, with four wins and two draws, while the Loons have three wins, two losses and a draw over their last six. Since joining the league in 2017, the Loons have only played the Union three times, losing twice and drawing once. These two teams, however, have not faced each other since 2019 and both sides have seen many roster changes since they last met. Going into Wednesday's game, the Loons are fresh off a crucial win in Austin while Philadelphia conceded a goal at the death to draw with CF Montréal. Hopefully, with the extra energy provided at Allianz Field, MNUFC will be able to take down the Union for the first time in franchise history to add extra distance between themselves and the Vancouver Whitecaps, who trail by only a point in league standings.

Head Coach Adrian Heath on needing the result despite Wednesday’s game against an Eastern Conference opponent…

“We’re at the stage now where when you play the teams around you, it can have another effect but with this one, we don’t think there’s a lot of room for error. I’m probably closest to Jim [Curtin] as most of the coaches, got a lot of time for him. I think what he’s achieved over the last three or four years is fantastic. Fair dues to their ownership, they’ve had faith as he’s built. Waited for all them young players to come through. Full of young players, very aggressive the way they play with the ball and without the ball. So we know what’s coming. It’s not going to be easy for sure.”

Defender Michael Boxall on the importance of the three points on the road…

“I think, when you think about what the stretch of the next ten, twelve days looks like for us, I think when we start off with three points at the beginning, on the road, it sets the tone. Kind of takes a little bit of pressure off these home games, but I mean home games for us, when it’s this tight, we got to win them.” MORE.

FIRST TOUCHES

• Midfielder Franco Fragapane’s goal in the 16th minute was his third of the season, tying him with Ethan Finlay for fourth on the team. Hassani Dotson provided the assist, his third of the year — also tying him with Finlay for fourth in assists. MORE