Minnesota United FC vs. Toronto FC
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
6.3.2023 | MLS Matchday No. 17 | MLS Game 16
7:30 p.m. CT (Exclusively on AppleTV’s MLS Season Pass)
The weather isn’t the only thing heating up right now in the North Star State; the soccer is too. Minnesota United will be back at home this weekend to take on a different kind of Canadian foe this time around. Toronto FC is bringing the league’s best-paid squad to the Twin Cities this weekend as they seek to right the ship, but Adrian Heath and the Loons have a ship of their own to steer. In an especially tight playoff race in both conferences, both of these teams will be hoping to start a good run of form sooner rather than later.
Minnesota United -
Run of Form: W-W-L-D-L
Without any more U.S. Open Cup games to worry about, the Loons schedule is about to clear up a bit. The grueling run of back-to-back games in the month of May was tough for everyone in the league, but the Black and Blue managed to escape with a few very important league wins against Houston and Portland. While they’ve suffered a few setbacks in their recent matches, MNUFC’s offense appears to have found a higher level of potency and consistency, managing to score in each of their last four league games. As has been the case all season long, their matches aren’t typically decided by large margins, and they don’t allow very many chances. If the Loons’ defense can shut down Toronto’s Italian stallions, another win could be on the cards.
Toronto FC -
Run of Form: L-D-L-W-D
2023 has not gone according to plan for the Reds. With 17 points from their first 16 games, the league’s largest payroll is far from producing the league’s best football. However, they’ve recently found a bit of success with the return of Lorenzo Insigne to the lineup. A win against a decent D.C. side may have been exactly what the Canadians needed to jumpstart the heart of their team. They followed that performance with a 0-0 draw with Chicago, but outshot the Fire 19-4. The pistons are starting to fire in Toronto; the league needs to be wary of this sleeping giant before it starts hitting on all cylinders.
Keys to the Match:
Watch ‘Em Wide
It’s no secret that Toronto FC has a pair of talented Italians in their attack. With Lorenzo Insigne on the left and Federico Bernardeschi on the right, the Loons will need to be prepared to deal with the quality they provide. Whether they’re cutting in from wide spaces or stretching the pitch, both players have the ability to pick a pass, fire off a shot, and generally make life difficult for opposing defenses. Good communication between the center backs and fullbacks is going to be key to handling this threat, especially when they make diagonal runs into the box.
All Talk
On paper, this team is incredible. Not only do their DPs stand out, but the rest of the squad is stacked with international players with experience at the highest levels. Canadian internationals Jonathan Osorio, Mark Anthony Kaye, and Richie Laryea have earned reputations as some of the league’s most consistent players, while Michael and Bob Bradley are essentially American soccer royalty. But the past is the past, and the game isn’t played on paper. As long as the Loons ignore the names on the team sheet, they shouldn’t have any problems going toe-to-toe with their underachieving opponents.
Like-for-Like
Bob Bradley has utilized both a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation this season. Adrian Heath has likewise opted for a 4-2-3-1 more often than not this year, meaning that we can expect to see relatively similar formations on either side of the pitch. While this doesn’t give either team a notable tactical advantage purely based on lineups, there are several ways that these tactics can play out. With skilled wingers, Bradley may see fit to get his width from his fullbacks, allowing the Italians to pinch in and get on the ball more often. Should this be the case, the Loons could look to use Bongi’s speed in the spaces left behind by the advanced defenders, attacking the flanks and firing crosses into the box as much as possible.
