The word dark horse gets thrown around a lot in sports, at times with no justification, but in this instance, it can apply for Minnesota United. On paper, even before some in season acquisitions, the Loons looked like a team ready to make a splash in the 2021 Major League Soccer season.
Entering 2021, Adrian Heath’s side had tools that other MLS teams didn’t, a solid goalkeeper, good offense, and a star player in Emanuel Reynoso. Then catastrophe hit, in one of the marquee matches to open the season the Loons were ran off the field 4-0 by the Seattle Sounders. What followed was equally as embarrassing, Minnesota United dropped their first 4 games.
Things got so bad that many pundits were picking Adrian Heath to be the first coaching casualty of 2021. After a pair of 1-0 wins Minnesota United did not lose again until early July in a 2-0 shock defeat to the Colorado Rapids. So, what happened? What changed? Well, a little bit of luck and some early season incorporations have fans and pundits alike raving about Minnesota United.
MLS is a forgiving streaky league
MLS can be forgiving for early mishaps, a 4 game in a row losing streak can condemn teams in Europe and even cost a coach their job. In MLS getting a string of wins together can put you back in contention in no time, and Adrian Heath was able to maintain the boat after winning two games by not giving up a goal, the Loons never looked back. Heath addressed the team’s biggest ill, leaking goals, fixing defensive issues United have now earned five clean sheets in total this season, after giving up 10 in 4 games. Getting wins against direct opposition such as the Timbers, Sounders, and upstarts Austin FC quickly gave the team a measuring stick that they can compete with the league's best. Now the Loons are 1 win away from jumping into third in the West.
Knowing how to buy
Atlanta United and LAFC may get big press for some of their acquisitions but Minnesota United are not one to be overlooked as to how they have balanced the ever-tricky MLS salary budget. Adrien Hunou the clubs third DP has shown flashes of what he can be in MLS. The addition of Argentine Franco Fragapane has been an upgrade in the attack and how many MLS clubs can boast that they have a former Boca Juniors forward coming off the bench like Ramón Ábila? Throw in the steady and one of the most underrated players in MLS Ján Greguš and revitalized forward Robin Lod with star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso and how can Loon fans not lick their chops?
Stats tell the tale
Against the Portland Timbers, Minnesota United recorded 28 shots on goal, a clear sign that the team is creating and taking chances. While not goal machines the leading scorers at United are evenly distributed, with Lod the team leader with 4. While the club is fourth from bottom in goals scored, they are fifth in shots and if they can start converting more of their chances look for them to win more games by a wider margin.
What most matters is the win column and while the Loons gave up a lot of ground in the first month of the season, since then they have only lost 1 game, and won six. Now the club enters a stretch of games that can leave them up high in the Western Conference against LAFC, the often-weak Vancouver Whitecaps, shaky Houston Dynamo, and a possible statement game against the Galaxy.
If the Loons can get a stretch of wins, then we may have to stop referring to them as dark horses, but rather as “for real”, they certainly have the talent and the home venue to be thinking big in 2021.
