MNUFC vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
BC Place | Vancouver, BC, Canada
07.08.2022 | MLS Week No. 19 | MLS Game No. 19
9:30 p.m. CT (MLS Live on ESPN+, Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW - Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)

The Loons secured three points with a 3-2 win Sunday night over Real Salt Lake, an identical result to last Wednesday night's win over LA Galaxy of 3-2. Emanuel Reynoso scored another first half brace and Luis scored a cheeky chip in the 61st minute to secure the win. Next up, the Loons will be headed over the border for their Week 19 matchup. Currently, the Loons and the Whitecaps are stuck in a stalemate with a record of 3-3-3 all-time. The similarities go beyond past matchups with Vancouver and Minnesota, with both securing a record 7-8-3 so far this season. Minnesota has a slight advantage due to goal differential, but the Whitecaps are a team to watch out for. In their most recent game on Saturday, Vancouver took down LAFC, the top team in the Western Conference. In order to create some separation and continue their winning ways, the Loons will need to dig deep and secure another road win on Friday. MORE

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

With a couple of wins in a row, Minnesota United heads back out on the road after a short homecoming. This time, the Loons head north of the border to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps. Both teams have strung together some good results, making for an intriguing matchup that is sure to showcase some quality form. MORE

Adrian Heath on what he sees in Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of Friday’s match…

“They’re\] well organized, they play a bit different than a lot of teams. They play three very narrow at the top and two behind, then a back five, so it is difficult to break down. They started slowly, but I think \[they’ve had\] six wins in the last eight or nine games. So, they’re on a really good rich vein of form. It’s never easy going to Vancouver and as I always say, I don’t expect it to be any different.” **[MORE**

Robin Lod on the confidence of the group after back-to-back wins…

“It means a lot. It’s a good way to build up some confidence and go for the wins. You can also see on the table, just get a few wins in a row and you change your season totally, so now we just need to focus on the next one.” MORE

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

HOTTER THAN THE SUN:

If you’ve done no more than check the box scores to Minnesota’s last two games, a couple of things probably stood out to you. First, there have been a lot of goals, ten total across the two games. Second, there has been a whole lot of Emanuel Reynoso on those box scores. Reynoso came into last week’s game against the LA Galaxy with three goals on the season, two of which came from the penalty spot. His only open play goal of the season came in the Loons’ 3-0 win over Chicago in April. After arguably the best week of his career, and inarguably the best scoring week of his career, Reynoso has ascended to a new level.  MORE

FIRST TOUCHES

• Minnesota’s 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday marked the third time this season the Loons have won back-to-back games; they have not yet successfully converted a third consecutive win.
• The Loons have scored six goals across their last two games, taking them from a bottom-five scoring team to tied for 16th in the 28 team league.
• Minnesota has also made their way almost back into the playoff positions, now just two points behind Seattle in seventh (who have a game in hand) and three back of Nashville, Dallas and the Galaxy (who also have a game in hand).
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