Storylines is back after the break to welcome SC Paderborn 07 to Minnesota, as the Loons return from their own international duties across the world. Read on to find out just who this team is and what we may expect from MNUFC on Saturday.
Who Are You
In case you aren’t familiar with SC Paderborn 07, the club hails from the city of Paderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of Germany’s westernmost states and its most populous. Paderborn (the city), with a little over 150,000 residents, would be Minnesota’s third-largest city if it moved here. Paderborn (the club) finished 7th in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany’s second tier of professional soccer. They were in the top Bundesliga just two years ago, in 2019-20. Paderborn’s 56 goals were sixth-most in the 2. Bundesliga in 2021-22, but their attack was well-balanced, with their top scorer Felix Platte scoring just eight goals on the season. Goalkeeper Jannik Huth led the league with 139 saves, and defender Jasper van der Werff’s 92.58% pass completion was also best in the league.
Loons On The Road
Several Minnesota players have been off on international duty over the past couple of weeks, and will likely still be missing for Saturday’s game. Kervin Arriaga started both games last week for the Honduran national team in the CONCACAF Nations League, a 1-0 win and a 2-1 defeat, both against Curaçao in Curaçao. Honduras will play against Canada and Dayne St. Clair on Monday, with the asterisk that Canada’s first scheduled match of this international break was canceled due to a labor dispute. Robin Lod and Finland are off to a good start in the UEFA Nations League, with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina and a 2-0 win over Montenegro thus far, both of which Lod started in. Finland plays against Romania on Saturday and against Bosnia & Herzegovina again on Tuesday. Michael Boxall came off the bench in New Zealand’s 1-0 loss to Peru on Sunday. New Zealand has one more friendly against Oman on Thursday before the all-important final World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica on Tuesday. Molik Jesse Kahn of MNUFC2 has appeared off the bench in both of Trinidad & Tobago’s Nations League fixtures, a 2-1 loss to Nicaragua and a 1-0 win over the Bahamas. Trinidad & Tobago has two remaining games on Friday and Monday, both against St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Loons At Home:
As the previous Storyline acknowledged, it’s worth noting that several Loons are likely to relish the opportunity for 90 minutes of play against a side coming off a full season of German soccer. Could this be an opportunity for Luis Amarilla and Adrien Hunou to get on the scorer’s sheet and find confidence for the games ahead? Or a chance for some of the regulars of the dominant Twosies of MNUFC2 to play against a higher tier of opposition? The Twosies were on an eight-game unbeaten streak before Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to San Jose II and were scoring for fun, with Emmanuel Iwe, Aziel Jackson, Tommy Williamson and Niko Hansen among those finding the back of the net. MNUFC2 is third in MLS NEXT Pro play with 22 team goals, with Jackson, Williamson and Justin McMaster each compiling four or more goals on the season.
MATCH INFO
Minnesota United FC vs. SC Paderborn 07
Allianz Field | St. Paul, MN
06.11.22 | International Friendly
7:00 pm CST (Bally Sports North, The CW-Twin Cities)
