ST. PAUL -- Manager Adrian Heath sought a restart for Minnesota United’s season going into last weekend.
Then the Loons lost 4-1 to Austin FC on Saturday.
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OK, starting … now.
MNUFC heads into Wednesday’s match at the Houston Dynamo needing to make up ground to qualify for a fifth straight appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
“I want to make that five, and we have a team capable of doing that,” Heath said Tuesday.
With more than 40% of the season remaining, the opportunity is there for the Loons. Minnesota (6-8-6, 24 points) sit in 11th place — only five points from fifth, but also only two points from 13th. Nine clubs make the expanded field.
With 20 matches down and 14 to go, MNUFC is tied for a Western Conference low in games played, with one game in hand on seven other clubs, two games in hand on four sides and three games in hand on Sporting Kansas City (25 points). Vancouver has also played 20.
The Loons had multiple chances to take a lead against Austin in the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s game, but Mender Garcia and others couldn’t convert.
It’s been the story of the season: The Loons get in front of goal and just … can’t … finish.
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MNUFC’s expected goals is 30.5 this season, but they have scored only 22, per fbref.com. Factoring expected goals allowed (25.1), the plus-5.5 expected goal differential is the third-largest margin in the West. That has led to multiple points dropped in the standings.
Heath has continually pointed to the amount of scoring chances created as a source of optimism. But that doesn’t go very far.
“I’m getting a bit fed up with saying it and probably our supporters are fed up with me saying it as well,” Heath said.
Heath drew the line a week ago with new striker Teemu Pukki and new winger Ishmael Tajouri-Shradi set for their MNUFC debuts. Both were substitutes in the second half Saturday and showed promise. Pukki is now a candidate to make his first MLS start against the Dynamo, while Tajouri-Shradi likely will remain an option off the bench.
Pukki’s partnership with playmaker Emanuel Reynoso will be instrumental in any sort of second-half season surge for MNUFC. After Saturday’s match, the pair were seen chatting inside the Loons’ dressing room at Allianz Field.
“We can’t keep saying we are missing chances and we’ve got to start to produce,” Heath said. “We are getting ourselves to a situation in the season where every game is going to be massive.”
Briefly
MNUFC is in advanced stages toward the transfer of 21-year-old English fullback Ethan Bristow from Tranmere Rovers, sources told the Pioneer Press. Paperwork has been submitted to the English club, but incentives are not done. As the deal stands, the Loons would not bring in Bristow using an Under-22 Initiative slot. United has one vacant U22 spot, but is not expected to use it, nor make another major addition before the summer transfer window closes Aug. 2. … Sang Bin Jeong (groin) and Emmanuel Iwe (hamstring) trained Tuesday. Franco Fragapane (thigh) warmed up with his group, but then worked on the side during the transition drill. The trio, especially Jeong and Iwe, are more likely to be available to return for Saturday’s game versus defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles FC in St. Paul. … Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair returned to Minnesota on Monday. He won Canada’s man of the match honor for his seven-save performance in the Gold Cup quarterfinal loss to the U.S. on Sunday. … Kemar Lawrence and Jamaica have a Gold Cup semifinal against Mexico on Wednesday night. The U.S. plays Panama on the other side of the bracket on Wednesday.
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