Off back-to-back home shutout wins over the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas, Los Angeles FC will try for their first-ever road victory over Minnesota United on Wednesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.
LAFC (9-5-5, 32 points), who blanked the Loons 1-0 in the season opener for both teams on Feb. 22 in Los Angeles, are 0-2-4 all-time in road matches with Minnesota, including a 2-0 loss last season.
LAFC are sixth in the Western Conference but still have three games in hand after going 0-2-1, including a 2-0 loss to eventual champion Chelsea, in the FIFA Club World Cup. After a 1-0 home loss to Vancouver, Los Angeles bounced back with a 3-0 win over the Rapids and a 2-0 victory last Saturday over Dallas.
Former Tottenham star and French international Hugo Lloris needed to make just one save against Dallas for his eighth clean sheet of the season and 20th in two seasons with LAFC. Denis Bouanga had a goal and an assist to increase his MLS totals to 10 goals and seven assists in 18 matches.
“There is rhythm, that is great to see,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. “There is confidence. That is good to see. … We have done this for two (matches) in a row, and we hope to continue that against Minnesota.”
Los Angeles will have to do it without one of its best defenders, however. The team announced Tuesday that Aaron Long, carted off in the 76th minute against Dallas, underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon and will miss the rest of the season.
Minnesota (11-4-7, 40 points) is second in the Western Conference, two points behind San Diego FC, and is a perfect 3-0-0 in July, including a U.S. Open Cup win over the Chicago Fire, outscoring its opponents 9-3 in the process.
The Loons come in off an impressive 4-1 home win over San Jose on Saturday. Tani Oluwaseyi had a goal and two assists and Robin Lod picked up his 34th career assist, eclipsing Emanuel Reynoso’s regular-season club record of 33. Oluwaseyi, a member of the Canadian national team, has nine goals and eight assists this season.
“I think in general it was a high-level performance, and I think the score line reflected that and the chances we had reflected that,” Minnesota coach Eric Ramsay said. “I think this team has a lot of energy and a lot of momentum at the moment.”
–Field Level Media
