Minnesota United FC vs. Montreal Impact | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Minnesota United FC vs. Montreal Impact
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
TCF Bank Stadium – Minneapolis
May 26 – 8 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

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Two teams looking to snap three-match winless streaks square off in Minneapolis as Minnesota United FC, who played Sporting Kansas City to a 1-1 draw last week following consecutive losses, host a Montreal impact side who have lost three straight games and seven of their last eight, including a 1-0 defeat to 10-man LA Galaxy at home.

This will be the second-ever meeting between the two sides. Minnesota won their first game 3-2 on September 16, 2017.

Minnesota United FC

Last week Adrian Heath made one change to the side that lost to the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-1, at home the previous week, with Collin Martin replacing the injured Ibson in the midfield.

After conceding early again on Khiry Shelton’s first goal for Sporting KC, Darwin Quintero leveled for the Loons (4-7-1), knocking in his own rebound in the 20th minute as Minnesota split points with the Western Conference leaders.

“I said at the end of this homestand probably we’ll have a better picture of where we are and I still believe that,” Heath said after the game. “This time next week after we play Montreal, and look at the league table, that will probably give us an idea and a fair reflection of where we are.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Rasmus Schuller
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M - Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M - Ethan Finlay (torn ACL), D - Marc Burch (left knee injury), GK - Matt Lampson (right knee injury), M - Ibson (left thigh injury); QUESTIONABLE: D - Tyrone Mears (right leg injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Eric Miller, Michael Boxall, Francisco Calvo, Jerome Thiesson — Rasmus Schuller, Collin Martin — Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero, Alexi Gomez — Christian Ramirez

Notes: Minnesota have conceded 15 goals in the first halves of games this year, the most in the league. They have conceded 11 goals in the first 30 minutes of games this year, while no other MLS team has conceded more than 11 goals in the first 45 minutes of their games this year. … The Loons are winless in their last two home games (1L-1D). Their longest winless streak at home is four games, from June 24th - July 22, 2017 (2L-2D).

Montreal Impact

Against LA Remi Garde made three changes from the side that lost to the Philadelphia Union, 2-0, with Marco Donadel playing alongside Jukka Raitala in central defense, Chris Duvall replacing the suspended Daniel Lovitz at left back and Ken Krolicki returning to the midfield in an altered 4-1-4-1 formation.

It appeared the best present the Impact (3-9-0) would get on their 25th anniversary celebration was a red card to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 41st minute, but Montreal not only couldn’t take advantage of the extra man, they conceded the late winner as Ola Kamara struck in the 75th minute for the visiting Galaxy.

Montreal have now gone three straight games without scoring, a stretch of 292 consecutive minutes dating back to Ignacio Piatti’s goal in a 4-2 win over the New England Revolution on May 5.

“Obviously we’re down at the moment. Losing that many games is obviously tough on the boys confidence-wise,” defender Michael Petrasso said after the match. “We have another game next Saturday and I think we need one win just to bounce the spirits and I think that will put us on a run. Right now it feels like it’s getting lower and lower.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Samuel Piette
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia injury), M - David Choinere (ankle surgery), D - Victor Cabrera (calf injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Michael Petrasso, Chris Duvall, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz — Alejandro Silva, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Raheem Edwards, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Ignacio Piatti

Notes: Montreal had 22 shots in their loss to the Galaxy on Monday, just the 10th time in franchise MLS history that they have taken 22 or more shots in a regular season match. … The Impact have lost seven of their last eight regular-season league matches (1W) and have been outscored 22-9 over the eight games.