Footage from the Minnesota United-Toronto FC match Saturday will not be featured in league-wide highlight packages this weekend, but it might be catalogued as part of opponents’ film study on how to neutralize the Loons going forward.
The Loons and Reds played to a scoreless draw at BMO Field in Toronto, and Minnesota’s usually potent counter-attacking offense was neutered as MNUFC possessed 49% of the ball — more than 20% more than their league-low mark going into Saturday.
“We are going to have to do both,” head coach Eric Ramsay said about playing with and without the ball. “… I don’t think the amount of the ball we had was a reflection of whether we played well or didn’t. It was the conditions they set to an extent.
“Over the year as we move forward are going to now encounter teams that are very, very conscious of the way in which we had success … over the first eight games,” Ramsay continued. “And it’s going to be a process, an iteration for us in that sense.”
United’s strong defense contributed to the road draw that means MNUFC (4-1-3, 15 points) extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, while Toronto (0-4-4, 4 points) is now winless in eight games to start the season.
Three tidbits
The Loons’ last goalless draw came 12 total games ago against Real Salt Lake in October. … DJ Taylor made his first MLS appearance early in the second half Saturday, replacing right wing back Bongi Hlongwane, who was being targeted by Toronto after picking up a first-half yellow card. … US Bank Stadium will host a doubleheader of CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on June 29. The four teams will be determined after the tournament’s group stages between national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
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