LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Banc of California Stadium | Los Angeles, California
5.09.18 | MLS Week No. 11 | MLS Game No. 10
9:00 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North, MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2018 Records:
MIN: 4-5-0; 1-4-0 on the road
LAFC: 5-2-1; 1-0-1 at home

After a resilient effort against Vancouver Whitecaps earned them a second straight victory, the Loons venture west for a midweek road clash with red hot expansion side LAFC, which is unbeaten in its last four contests. LAFC is coming off a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas at Banc of California Stadium and is 1-0-1 in two matches at its recently opened home ground.

MNUFC will bring the North to the West Coast on Wednesday, May 9 for a 9:00 p.m. CT kick-off. Pre-match coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North, streaming on FOX Sports Go and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

SCHEDULE

Playing their second match in four days, and with another to come within the week, MNUFC will have to re-group quickly, which is just the latest test of the Loons’ impressive resolve. Minnesota has dealt with a slew of injuries, an early 1-0 deficit against Houston and a red card in the 50th minute against Vancouver in recent weeks and yet have collected the full six points from their last two matches — momentum they will look to maintain against LAFC.

"The most important thing is that we stay nice and compact and don’t beat ourselves by giving silly goals away early on in the game," Head Coach Adrian Heath said. "That is what we have done in too many away games. If you give the opposition opportunities on the road and get yourself in a little bit of a hole, like we’ve done, it is very hard to get yourself out of it."

The hardy Loons will have to be up to the task against a highly potent LAFC attack led by forwards Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi. LAFC is tied for sixth in MLS with 18 goals in eight matches and both Vela and Rossi are among the league’s top attacking threats with five goals and four assists and four goals and five assists, respectively.

Forward Marco Ureña supplied five assists before undergoing a surgery that will keep him sidelined for at least the month, but the team recently further boosted its attacking strength with the acquisition of midfielder Lee Nguyen.

“They have some class players that we are going to watch out for, but it is a challenge we are more than up for,” defender Michael Boxall said. “It helps that we are going to have a consistent back four again. We’re going to have the same unit with Bobby [Shuttleworth] behind us. The team is feeling good and playing well. There is no reason we can’t look to pick up another three points on Wednesday night.”

In LAFC’s way will be Boxall, Shuttleworth and an MNUFC defense that has not conceded in 100-plus minutes and kept its first clean sheet of the season — and first since July 29, 2017 — last week against Vancouver. Aiding that standout effort was newly acquired defender Eric Miller, who played 81 minutes against the Whitecaps before being subbed off.

Heath was “pleased” with the Woodbury native’s steadying presence in his debut performance and his teammates were impressed not only with his quick acclimation to his new team, but also with how strong he was in his first on-field appearance since last October.

“To come into the side after one training session, he was fantastic,” Boxall said. “He looked like he had been there since preseason. He is going to be a great addition for us. He looked as comfortable as anyone out there.”

While the MNUFC matchday experience was new for Miller, the rest of the team now ventures into an unknown environment as the Loons make their first appearance at LAFC’s Banc of America Stadium. Minnesota is just the third away side to appear at MLS’s newest venue and its visit is heightening the team’s anticipation for when it moves into its state-of-the-art home, Allianz Field, in 2019.

"It is another step in the right direction (for the league)," Heath said. "It is another ‘best stadium in the league’ until we come in and we’ll hopefully have the best stadium in the league. I am really looking forward to it."

Playing at Banc of California marks a homecoming for MNUFC midfielder Miguel Ibarra, who grew up just north of Los Angeles in Lancaster, California, and played his college soccer at nearby UC Irvine. Ibarra has been an integral part of the Loons’ attack so far in 2018. He has contributed to more goals than any other player on the team with a goal and three assists and has been at his best in crucial moments. Ibarra’s first goal of the season last week against the Whitecaps proved to be the match-winner and he is tied for the MLS lead with three match-winning assists.

After a trying 2017 season, Ibarra credits his offseason work in California with forward and fellow Golden State native Christian Ramirez for his renewed belief and monumental 2018 turnaround.

“I think I am getting better every game,” Ibarra said. “My confidence right now is really up there. I know I did not have a good year last year, so starting in the offseason I was just making sure I worked. Now the hard work is paying off.”

With forward Mason Toye serving his red card suspension and Ramirez and forward Abu Danladi questionable and out with injuries, Ibarra — as well as midfielders Darwin Quintero and Alexi Gomez — are going to have to continue to shoulder the attacking load for the Loons against LAFC after their decisive performance in the win over Vancouver. Ten of the Loons’ 12 goals have come from the midfield so far.

Following Wednesday’s match, Minnesota United FC will play the first of three straight matches at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. CT against the San Jose Earthquakes. Pre-match coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North, streaming on FOX Sports Go and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

INJURY REPORT:

Minnesota United FC
OUT:
M – Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction)
M – Kevin Molino (left ACL tear)
M – Ethan Finlay (right ACL tear)
D – Tyrone Mears (lower legs)
D – March Burch (left knee surgery)
F – Abu Danladi (right ankle)

QUESTIONABLE:
D – Eric Miller (left lower leg)
F – Christian Ramirez (right hamstring)

NOT TRAVELING:
M – Ibson (rest)

Los Angeles FC
OUT:
GK – Luis Lopez (right tibial stress fracture)
F – Marco Urena (facial surgery)

FIRST TOUCHES:

• Carlos Vela’s brother, Alejandro, played for Minnesota during its NASL tenure. He made eight appearances for the Loons in 2015.
• Calum Mallace played for MNUFC in 2013. He was loaned to the club from Montreal Impact. He made 12 appearances and scored one goal for the Loons.
• Bob Bradley coached Manny Lagos and Amos Magee when they were players for Chicago Fire. Lagos played for the fire in 1998 and 1999, while Magee was on the team in 2000.
• Jordan Harvey and Michael Boxall were teammates on Vancouver Whitecaps FC from 2011 to 2012.
• Steven Beitashour and Sam Cronin played together for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2010 to 2013.
• Dela Jakovic and Collin Martin were both on D.C. United’s roster in 2013.
• Marco Urena and Francisco Calvo are both members of the Costa Rica national team.
• Laurent Ciman, Eric Miller and Johan Venegas all played for Montreal Impact in 2015.
• Lee Nguyen and Bobby Shuttleworth were mainstays in the New England Revolution lineup from 2008 through 2016.
• Benny Feilhaber played with Shuttleworth at New England in 2011 and 2012.
• Minnesota United earned its first clean sheet of the season last week.
• Bobby Shuttleworth made a season-high seven saves last match. He has two wins and a clean sheet this year.
• Shuttleworth’s 1.33 goals against average is the ninth lowest in MLS.
• Shuttleworth has the second-highest save percentage in the league, stopping 78.9% of the shots on goal he has faced.
• Miguel Ibarra scored his first goal of 2018. He has contributed to more goals than any MNUFC player this season with a goal and three assists to his credit.
• Ibarra’s three match-winning assists lead MLS. He is tied with Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti.
• Ibarra has the 10th best shots on goal percentage in the league. 62.5% of his shots end up on target.
• Midfielders have scored 10 of the Loons’ 12 goals in 2018.
• This is Minnesota’s first midweek match of 2018.
• Minnesota will not play on the road again until June 3 when it travels to play Sporting Kansas City.
• Mason Toye will be unavailable for this match after receiving a red card over the weekend against Vancouver.
• Minnesota is 3-0-0 when scoring the first goal.
• Eric Miller made his MNUFC debut last match against Vancouver. He played 81 minutes before being substituted. The Woodbury, MN native arrived late last week as part of a trade with Colorado Rapids.
• This is the second time LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley has coached in Los Angeles. He managed Chivas USA, a now-defunct MLS team, in 2006 before taking on the role as head coach of the U.S. national team.
• Carlos Vela is tied for the third highest goal total in MLS with five.
• Vela has taken 34 shots, the fourth-most in MLS.
• Vela (20) and Ibson (23) are among the 10 most fouled players in MLS.
• Both Diego Rossi and Marco Urena are tied for the second-highest assist total with five each.
• Tyler Miller has earned three clean sheets for LAFC this year. He is tied for the second-most in the league.