LAFC vs. Minnesota United FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

LAFC vs. Minnesota United FC
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 11
Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles
May 9 - 10 pm ET
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LAFC look to remain undefeated in their third game of a four-game homestand to open Banc of California Stadium following a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday afternoon, while Minnesota United FC have won back-to-back games for a second time this season after defeating Vancouver, 1-0.

LAFC

Bob Bradley made two changes to his side that defeated the Seattle Sounders FC in the Banc of California Stadium opener the prior week, bringing on 20-year-old Colombian Eduard Atuesta for his first start and Latif Blessing came on for Omar Gaber as Diego Rossi played as the lone striker with Marco Urena out injured.

Steven Beitashour gave LAFC (5-2-1) a deserved lead on nine minutes, but Maxi Urruti leveled for FC Dallas in the 55th minute. Lee Nguyen made his LAFC debut off the substitute’s bench for the final 17 minutes.

“You score more by being a little bit sharper. We had opportunities where you choose to play the ball hard across the six, you try to develop ideas that can become habits and then they happen so natural,” Bradley said after the game. “Every time I speak about Barcelona, it’s like PlayStation. All these things happen so fast and they are easy. You try to work to be sharper every day.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Luis Lopez (right tibial stress fracture), F - Marco Urena (facial surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey — Eduard Atuesta, Benny Feilhaber — Omar Gaber, Marc-Anthony Kaye, Carlos Vela — Diego Rossi

Notes: LAFC are on a four-match unbeaten run (3W-1D), allowing one or fewer goals in three of those games ... Since their 5-0 loss to Atlanta in early April, LAFC are allowing just 9.5 shots per game, tied for the second-fewest in that time ... With his next assist, Lee Nguyen will become the 19th player in MLS history with 50+ goals and 50+ assists.

Minnesota United FC

Adrian Heath made three changes to the side that defeated the Houston Dynamo the previous week with Eric Miller replacing Carter Manley at outside back, Alexi Gomez starting and rookie Mason Toye earning his first start for an injured Christian Ramirez up top.

Miguel Ibarra scored the lone goal in the 60th minute, 10 minutes after Toye was sent off on a straight red card for violent conduct, forcing the Loons (4-5-0) to play the final 40 minutes with 10 men.

Bobby Shuttleworth made sure the result held up with a few massive saves to help Minnesota earn their first clean sheet of the season.

“I thought it was a monumental effort considering how long we played a man down, but the team that we played, they’re the biggest team probably in the league,” Heath said after the match. “I thought the players, every single one of them, put themselves on the line so many times with crosses that were coming in the box. … Overall, incredibly proud of the players. It was a really big result for us.”

Suspended: F - Mason Toye
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M - Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), D - Tyrone Mears (right leg injury), M - Ethan Finlay (torn ACL), D - Marc Burch (left knee); QUESTIONABLE: F - Abu Danladi (right ankle), D - Eric Miller (leg), F - Christian Ramirez (hamstring)

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

Notes: Minnesota have conceded in 22 consecutive league road games, tied for the third-longest such streak since the start of 2010. The Loons have allowed multiple goals in all but three of those games ... Darwin Quintero is averaging 5.5 dribbles per 90, second-most in MLS among players with at least 300 minutes played this season.