Minnesota United at FC Dallas
When: 7:55 p.m. Friday
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Stream: FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy, 12 mph north wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-135; draw plus-25-; Dallas plus-180
Form: MNUFC (9-4-7, 34 points) have one loss in their last seven MLS matches but gave up a 90th minute goal in a 2-2 draw at Red Bulls on Saturday. Dallas (5-8-6, 21 points) has one win in their last nine MLS matches since the start of May and gave up a 96th minute goal in a 3-2 loss to first-place San Diego last weekend.
Recent matchup: A scoreless draw in St. Paul in April came with FCD leading scorer Petar Masa out with an ankle injury and the Loons combo of Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi combining for 0.5 expected goals.
Stat: Dallas has collected only five of a possible 27 points at Toyota Stadium, which has sections of prime seats covered in tarps during a $182 million renovation.
Quote: Loons head coach Eric Ramsay has pushed back a little on the perception that his team is hindered by its league-low possession (38%). But after RBNY match, he pointed to not being able to keep the ball as a reason why they had to defend for long stretches of the second half and then concede a late goal.
“I would much rather spend the final 20 minutes in their half, but that unfortunately it isn’t a huge strength of ours at the moment,” Ramsay told reporters. “… We let ourselves down in the moments where we turned the ball over too cheaply and weren’t able to counter attack, either with more precision or more patience. It’s that side of the game that needs to improve.”
Context: The return of forward Tani Oluwaseyi, whose hold-up play has improved, will help MNUFC keep the ball a bit more. He and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair are back from international duty with Canada. So is Carlos Harvey (Panama).
Look-ahead: MNUFC Under-16 academy forward Tim Dennis will play in the MLS Next All-Star Game in Austin, Texas, on July 21. The Brooklyn Park teen joined Loons Academy in summer of 2021 and was invited to a U.S. youth national team talent ID camp in 2023. He is the fourth United product chosen to play in the youth ASG showcase since it started in 2022.
Absences: Joseph Rosales (international duty) and Morris Duggan (back) are out. Wessel Speel (shoulder) is questionable. Dallas has been without top forward Anderson Julio (lower leg) and top defender Osage Urhoghide (upper leg). Both have played more than 1,000 minutes this season.
Projected starting XI: In a 5-4-1 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Robin Lod, MF Owen Gene, MF Wił Trapp; LWB Anthony Markanich, CB Niko Romero, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Julian Gressel; GK Dayne St. Clair.
Scouting report: Dallas has averaged three goals against in its past three matches, while Minnesota has averaged 2.5 over its last four. There should be more fireworks on July 4.
Prediction: Every single time MNUFC has tied a game this season it has been followed by another draw. That oddity will stop Friday in an easier place to play. Loons win 2-1.
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