Minnesota United vs. LAFC: Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction
Los Angeles FC at Minnesota United
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Free on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Weather: 40 degrees, mostly clear skies, 18 mph southeast wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-175; draw plus-250; LAFC plus-135
Last time out: LAFC smoked MNUFC 5-1 at BMO Stadium on Oct. 4. It proved to be Adrian Heath’s final game as manager. After nearly seven full seasons, he was fired when the team returned to Minnesota the next day.
Form: LAFC (1-1-1, 4 points) beat Seattle 2-0 in the opener, lost 3-0 in a snowy and lightning-interrupted game in Salt Lake and had a 0-0 draw with Kansas City last weekend. MNUFC (2-0-1, 7 points) had a smash-and-grab win with a 95th-minute goal from Bongi Hlongwane to beat Orlando City 3-2 last Saturday.
Synopsis: After interim head coach Cameron Knowles led the Loons to a first-place tie in the Western Conference standings, new permanent head coach Eric Ramsay will be on the sideline for the first time on Saturday. He just started working with the team this week.
Quote: “I want the team to be a proactive team, an aggressive team that plays in a way that excites the fans, but also excites the players,” Ramsay said of his preferred playing style. “Players want to play in teams that want to be the protagonist, that want to be the dominate team.”
Decisions pending: After Saturday, the Loons will need to figure out who will play with MNUFC2 in the U.S. Open Cup first-round match versus Chicago House on Wednesday and who will remain for the international friendly against Irish club St. Patrick’s, which will be played at the same time in St. Paul. Five players on international duties further complicates matters.
Observation: Emanuel Reynoso (knee) looked like his old MLS All-Star self on Tuesday, scoring a few nice goals in Ramsay’s debut training session. The Argentine is available for selection, Ramsay said, and appears in line for a season debut, most likely off the bench.
Loons’ projected XI: In a 4-3-3 formation, LW Bongi Hlongwane, CF Teemu Pukki, RW Sang Bin Jeong; CM Hassani Dotson, CM Robin Lod, CM Wil Trapp; LB Devin Padelford, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, RB DJ Taylor; GK Dayne St. Clair.
Absences: As of Tuesday, MNUFC was the healthiest it has been all season. The red-card suspension of Joseph Rosales from the brouhaha at the end of the Orlando win means there will be the first change to the Loons’ starting back line this season.
Big moment? With Rosales banned, Devin Padelford appears in line for his first MLS start Saturday. The two left backs were in a preseason position battle. Padelford, a 21-year-old from Maplewood, came off the bench in eight MLS games last season and scored a goal vs. Austin in July.
Opinion: This season, MLS has started to be a clearinghouse for teams’ availability reports, but they are sharing them in Friday night news dumps. If you want to be the gatekeeper, fine. Just share it before happy hour — it will help generate more chatter about your players.
Scouting point: How long will teams be able to keep Denis Bouanga off the scoreboard this season? The Gabon international scored a hat trick against the Loons in October, but he hasn’t found the net this season. He has an expected goals of 1.3 in 270 minutes this season.
Prediction: The Loons have been off to a charmed start this season and here’s to leaning into Ramsay, an Oasis fan, hearing supporters sing “Wonderwall” after his first game on the sideline. Loons win 2-1, but do it without the late drama for the first time in 2024.
