MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. D.C. UNITED

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

04.28.2019 | MLS Week No. 8 | MLS Game No. 8

12:30 p.m. CT (FS1, FOX Sports GO, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

2019 Records:

DC: 5-2-2, 3-0-1 on the road

MIN: 3-3-2, 0-0-2 at home

With barely a moment to catch their breath since Wednesday night’s goalless draw against the LA Galaxy, Minnesota United has to turn around and get ready to host D.C. United this Sunday, April 28 at Allianz Field. Dogged by individual errors that led to conceding seven goals against NYCFC and Toronto FC, the Loons’ defense was compact and capable against Los Angeles, and the offense looked more than likely, but was denied on the goal line a few times. For their part, D.C. will be looking to bounce back from a tough home loss to NYCFC last weekend.

The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. CT with coverage beginning at 12:00 p.m. on FS1, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on SKOR North.

Wednesday marked the return of midfielder Kevin Molino to the starting lineup for the first time since an ACL tear ended his 2018 season prematurely. Both he and Abu Danladi — who started out wide on the right side — show serious promise going forward but also both had to shake off some nerves early, as did the midfield pairing of Osvaldo Alonso and Rasmus Schuller, who stepped in for the suspended Jan Gregus.

“I thought the first 10 minutes [against LA], we didn't get a grip of their shape very well,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “But once we started to work it out in wide areas, I thought we didn't have an awful lot of problems. I want us to pick that momentum up. I think the great thing for us is that the crowd stayed with us to the very end because we kept the crowd involved in the game. The one thing the stadium has proved, there's a great deal of noise in there and we want to get a win.”

The backline was buoyed by the return of defender Ike Opara, who sat out against Toronto FC after going down with a head injury in the home opener. Against the Galaxy, he was a force at the back and the front, organizing the backline and earning two of the best chances on goal off of headers from corner kicks that were barely blocked in front of goal. In the opening minutes against the Galaxy, he shepherded defenders up and back with his arms outstretched, yelling for everyone to keep in line.

“[It makes] it easier — especially for the guys ahead of us — if we're able to keep a smart high line at times,” he said. “If we have to drop the line, we drop the line, but trying to be on the same page. That's where we gain the trust as a unit and it allows us to put people in good positions. I think the guys trusted me in that role and it's not easy, especially when a stadium's loud, having to bark orders. It's a little bit more draining, but it's what we need and I'm going to do whatever it takes to win here.”

It will undoubtedly take a lot against a D.C. United side that sits atop the Eastern Conference standings with an undefeated road record. Boasting not only Wayne Rooney up top, but a host of dangerous attacking midfielders, D.C. United has a deadly attack and a defense that’s only allowed only nine goals this season.

“We know [D.C. United] is a good team,” said Heath. “We know they've got really good attacking pieces with Wayne and [Luciano] Acosta and now [Lucas] Rodriguez and [Paul] Arriola's playing really well, so their front four are very good. We have to defend well, be nice and compact, don't get too stretched out, not give them too much room. If we do that, I think we have more than enough going forward to create opportunities against what they will play.”

Responsibility for keeping the defense together will fall squarely on Opara’s shoulders again, and only days after tussling with Ibrahimovic, he and his compatriots will now have to tangle with another of the world’s best in Rooney.

“Both are different players at this point in their careers,” he said. “Zlatan's dangerous — we could go all day: 500+ goals for a reason, so good for him. But Rooney is a smart player in terms of trying to create chances whereas Zlatan likes to stay high. Rooney's kind of all over the field. He's a creator and a distributor, he's a finisher.”

With two draws in two games so far, Minnesota United’s start in Allianz Field hasn’t been a disappointment on the field per se, but with fans hungry for the chance to finally sing “Wonderwall” in their new home, much will be riding on the outcome of Sunday’s game.

The Loons will close out their three-game homestand next week with a game against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. CT. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North+, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on SKOR North.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United FC

QUESTIONABLE: D – Chase Gasper (hamstring)

D.C. United

OUT: D – Oniel Fisher (knee surgery 10/3)

D – Oniel Fisher (knee surgery 10/3) OUT: D – Chris Odoi-Atsem (Hodgkin's Lymphoma)

D – Chris Odoi-Atsem (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) OUT: M – Antonio Bustamante (knee injury)

M – Antonio Bustamante (knee injury) OUT: D – Joseph Mora (broken jaw 3/31, out 4 weeks)

D – Joseph Mora (broken jaw 3/31, out 4 weeks) QUESTIONABLE: D – Chris McCann (hamstring injury)

D – Chris McCann (hamstring injury) ​QUESTIONABLE: D – Leonardo Jara (shoulder injury)

FIRST TOUCHES