Minnesota United extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches Saturday, but a second straight scoreless draw doesn’t add much momentum.
The Loons’ 0-0 result with shorthanded FC Dallas at Allianz Field followed a goalless game in Toronto last weekend. Minnesota has managed four wins and four ties in the run.
Still, MNUFC (4-1-4, 16 points) has equaled its club record-best unbeaten run from September-November 2020.
Here are three takeaways:
Attack gone cold
After scoring multiple goals in four straight matches, the Loons have gone two straight games without scoring.
Strikers Tani Oluwaseyi (five goals) and Kelvin Yeboah (four goals) were among the hottest tandem in the league but have cooled off significantly.
In the 73rd minute, Carlos Harvey sent in a great cross to the back post. Oluwaseyi came sliding in at the back post, but his shot was off frame. That served as the Loons best chance of the evening.
Caught a break
FC Dallas’ two most-dangerous attackers didn’t start Saturday: striker Petar Musa was out with an ankle injury and central attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta was on the bench based on coach Eric Quill’s decision. Acosta subbed in during the 63rd minute and his header was denied by Dayne St. Clair in the 78th minute.
The pair of Designated Players have each scored three goals this season, with Musa adding three assists. Not taking better advantage of their lesser, nonexistent roles will sting for MNUFC.
Dallas (3-3-3, 12 points) also had two other key players out in Marco Farfan and Sebastian Lletget; both have leg injuries.
Three makes a trend
The Loons used the same starting XI for the third straight game Saturday: Oluwaseyi, Yeboah; Joaquin Pereyra, Robin Lod, Wil Trapp; Joseph Rosales, Nicholas Romero, Michael Boxall, Jefferson Diaz, Bongi Hlongwane; St. Clair.
Consistency is good, but it’s also indicative of a lack of competition for spots, especially in midfield and at forward.
Injuries to Hassani Dotson and Owen Gene cut down on options in midfield, and a lack of form for Sang Bin Jeong help make the forward choices easy.
In a scoreless game, midfielder Sam Shashoua was the only attacking option brought in for the Loons in the 65th minute.
Three tidbits
Louisville City head coach Danny Cruz — whose USL Championship team will play MNUFC in U.S. Open Cup on May 7 — was initially included in United’s coaching search that produced Eric Ramsay. … Among the four Loons on loan, Alejandro Bran has played much more for Costa Rican club Alajuelense than any of the three others: (Matus Kmet with Gornik Zabrze in Poland), Jordan Adebayo-Smith (Detroit City) and Roman Torres (Birmingham City). Kmet hasn’t played since March. … MNUFC has been promoting its assistant coaches much more than in seasons past, with a video feature on Cameron Knowles this week and postgame breakdowns with Dennis Lawrence on a weekly basis.
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