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FC Dallas Face a Tough Road Challenge Against Minnesota United
FC Dallas is still trying to secure their initial away victory of the season by facing off against Minnesota United in Saint Paul, Minnesota this Saturday night. This game is a challenging part of Dallas’s busy schedule as they face one of the most difficult periods of the season.
Challenging Road for FC Dallas
Dallas has struggled away from home, posting a record of 0-6-2 in MLS play despite their 13 points from a 3-8-4 overall record. This game against Minnesota United is the fifth match in a span of 18 days, which also features challenging matches against the top four teams in the Western Conference.
Their tough period started with a 2-1 win away against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the U.S. Open Cup on May 22. Only three days later, they managed to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw at their home stadium against the top team in the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake. However, their advancements were impeded by back-to-back losses in Los Angeles, falling to the LA Galaxy (3-1) and Los Angeles FC (1-0), resulting in them slipping to fourth position.
Now, they face the third-place Loons (8-3-4, 28 points) in what promises to be another tough encounter.
“It’s a tough stretch, very tough stretch, but it is what it is,” said Dallas coach Nico Estevez.
Minnesota United’s Short-Handed Challenge
Minnesota United, coming off a 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City, will be missing a large number of players for this game. Nine Loons players, such as Dayne St. Clair (Canada), Teemu Pukki, Robin Lod (Finland), and Tani Oluwaseyi (Canada), are absent for international obligations. In addition to their problems, it is anticipated that both defenders DJ Taylor (hamstring injury) and Miguel Tapias (green card complications) will be absent for the game.
“It was quiet in the facility,” defender Devin Padelford told the Minneapolis Star Tribune after practice earlier this week. “It’s almost sad. Like you walk in and you’re like, where is everyone?”
Despite these absences, Minnesota’s midfield remains solid with players like Sang Bin Jeong, Bongi Hlongwane, and Franco Fragapane. New Zealand international Michael Boxall will anchor the defense, while veteran Clint Irwin, with 34 career clean sheets in 141 games (137 starts), will make his first start of the season in place of St. Clair.
“I think we take it for what it is and really get our teeth stuck into trying to prepare this group for a difficult game,” Minnesota coach Eric Ramsay said. “We have sort of thrived on that need to be pragmatic, and I think that will, hopefully, bring the best out of us and the players.”
Key Players and Absences
For FC Dallas, Petar Musa is leading the charge with five goals this season. However, they’ll be missing midfielder Carl Sainte (Haiti) and defender Nolan Norris (U.S. under-19), who are both away on international duty.
On the other hand, Minnesota will be leaning heavily on their midfield trio and the experience of Michael Boxall and Clint Irwin to navigate through this match despite missing many key players.
As FC Dallas strives to secure their first road win, this game against a short-handed yet resilient Minnesota United will be a crucial test in their challenging schedule. This meeting will challenge both their physical stamina and strategic skills as they aim to enhance their position in the league. Soccer supporters can anticipate a tough competition on the field as both sides strive to reach their goals.
