Minnesota United will try to snap an eight-match home winless streak Wednesday night when they host FC Dallas in Saint Paul, Minn.
Minnesota’s last home win came on April 18, 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers. Despite the long home drought, the Loons (7-8-8, 29 points) enter the contest just one point behind ninth-place San Diego FC in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Minnesota, which struggled to score goals during a 12-match stretch that saw it win just once, has scored 12 goals over its last three matches. However, the team has gone just 1-1-1 because it has also allowed nine goals during that span.
The Loons come in off a wild 5-4 loss at Portland on Saturday. The Timbers bolted to a 3-0 lead in the first 26 minutes but Minnesota, behind a brace by Marcus Caldeira and a goal by Anthony Markanich, rallied to tie it just 24 minutes later. Portland then rebounded to score twice to take a 5-3 lead before Tomas Chancalay capped the scoring with a goal in the 92nd minute.
“What we need to do is get back to tightening up the defending,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said. “We need to understand we need to drop off and get behind the ball. It’s not a moment to press. Our guys are really good at being aggressive, but when we get it wrong — we saw this earlier in the season — it can leave guys in really difficult situations at the back.”
FC Dallas (10-6-7, 37 points), who have gone an impressive 6-4-3 on the road, enter the contest in fourth place, six points behind Western Conference-leading Vancouver.
Dallas comes in off a dramatic 4-3 comeback win over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, rallying from a 2-0 deficit after 19 minutes to win it in the 97th minute on a penalty kick by forward Petar Musa.
Musa has scored 18 goals in 18 starts, tied with Lionel Messi for the MLS goal lead.
“They keep proving themselves again and again that they’re never going to turn over and die,” Dallas coach Eric Quill said. “They’re going to roll up their sleeves and find a way.”
This is the second meeting between the two teams. Minnesota won the first match 1-0 on April 22 in Frisco, Tex., on a first-half goal by Markanich and three saves by goalie Drake Callender.
–Field Level Media
