Minnesota United FC at San Jose Earthquakes Preview
September 30, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – After a difficult loss in Kansas City, Minnesota United took the International Break to regroup, physically and mentally, as they hold their fate in their own hands. MNUFC dropped to seventh in West, holding the final playoff spot and the head to San Jose knowing a result is absolutely necessary to keep their playoff dreams alive. While not in the playoff race, the Earthquakes have shown fight heading into the final games of the season, despite losing to the Galaxy last weekend 2-3. The Loons welcome back their international players as well as midfielder Emanuel Reynoso from suspension and will look get one step closer to securing a playoff spot and maybe home-field advantage.
ADRIAN HEATH ON SAN JOSE AND THE CHALLENGES THEY PRESENT
“Well they have talent. Cade Cowell looks to be really enjoying his football at this moment in time, and [Jeremy] Ebobisse has a good goal record once again, Cristian Espinoza always seems to play well against us. We’ve had some good results [in San Jose], but I know that we are going to have to play well this weekend. Their last couple of results; they did alright against the Galaxy and then it was a draw at FC Dallas. They have enough talent and as always in this league we have to play well enough to win and if we do, we give ourselves a chance, and if we don’t, we will see where that leaves us.”
EMANUEL REYNOSO ON WHAT THE TEAM NEEDS TO DO TO GET A RESULT IN SAN JOSE
“First, believe in ourselves because we know we have a great squad. We know that we depend on ourselves, only ourselves and nobody else. So we will go to play the game how we do all of our matches… try to bring three points, that’s what we want. To repeat, it depends on us, it depends on our large, wonderful group. So we will give the best for ourselves and all of the fans, that’s what we all want.”
STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW
THE TASK: During the aforementioned international break, the games that were once in hand for some Western Conference teams were taken care of, leaving a clear picture of what is necessary for Minnesota (and everyone else) to make it into the playoffs. Minnesota can still rise as high as third with a significant amount of help, but the focus remains on the clinch. The Loons can clinch their playoff spot this weekend, most easily with a win, but they will need at least one other result to go their way however things go. Here are the possibilities:
If Minnesota wins against San Jose on Saturday night, their eyes turn to Real Salt Lake’s clash against the LA Galaxy. If Real fails to win while Minnesota wins, the Loons will clinch a playoff spot regardless of any other results. If RSL win, MNUFC will need a Timbers draw or loss against LAFC in order to clinch.
If Minnesota draws against San Jose, things get more complicated. A draw would keep the Loons just barely in range of both Seattle and Vancouver, pending their results. Vancouver plays Austin on Saturday night; Seattle plays in Kansas City on Sunday. Both teams would be on 43 points with wins, just three behind Minnesota’s theoretical 46, and in that scenario, Seattle would match Minnesota’s 13 wins and Vancouver would be just one behind with 12, ensuring progress in that tiebreaker with the necessary results on the season’s final day. Vancouver would need a remarkable swing in goal difference to actually pass the Loons, but if things were to go as listed above, it would be in the Whitecaps’ hands; Vancouver is Minnesota’s final opponent of the season. To sum it all up, for Minnesota to clinch with a draw, they would need both Seattle and Vancouver to fail to win, AND would need Salt Lake to lose outright (this would guarantee that Minnesota wins the first tiebreaker with Salt Lake, even though Real could still catch the Loons on points).
Got all that? Whether they win, lose, or draw with the Quakes, Minnesota United’s fate will likely be determined on Decision Day, but there are realistic scenarios for their playoff spot to be clinched this weekend with a positive result and a little help. As usual, their best bet is to win their match!
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
While MNUFC will have their eyes set on a postseason berth, San Jose will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. At this point, they are simply playing for pride, and perhaps to avoid the worst record in the league. Their last five games have seen them lose three times, including a brutal 6-0 thrashing at the hands of FC Cincinnati. No matter how you slice it, this has been a rough run for the Quakes. Though they are capable of scoring, they seem to be completely incapable of defending, having conceded 67 goals this season, the most in the entire league. Exciting attacking players like Jeremy Ebobisse and Cade Cowell haven’t been able to make up for their teams utter lack of resistance in the defensive third.
PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:
Minnesota United
OUT:
B. Dibassy – Thigh (out for the season)
H. Dotson – Knee (out for the season)
J. Hayes – Lower Leg (out for the season)
B. Hlongwane – Knee
P. Weah – Knee
QUESTIONABLE:
R. Lod – Ankle
MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
PAYPAL PARK | SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
10.01.22 | MLS Regular Season | Week 33
9:00 p.m. CT (BSN, The CW Twin Cities; Radio on 1500 ESPN)
2022 Record
MIN: 13-13-6 (6-9-1 on the road)
SJE: 7-15-10 (6-4-6 at home)
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