PREVIEW | United vs. Scorpions

Minnesota United finished the 2014 season with 47 goals – close behind were the San Antonio Scorpions finishing the 2014 season with 43 goals. It’s a story from a different script early in 2015 for both teams, sitting at tenth and eleventh place, respectively, early in the campaign. The Loons were disappointing in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Ottawa and are aware improvements need to be made to be competitive in the NASL in 2015.

“It’s important for us to respond well from last week and step into the game this weekend with an attitude that is better,” Minnesota United head coach Manny Lagos said. “Last week I’d say isn’t representative of how we play as a team or as an organization – it will be important for us to change that.”

Still, Lagos was hesitant to call this a must-win match. Both the Scorpions and United have yet to pick up three points on the season, but each club has a game in hand and the talent to turn things around.

“This early in the season I don’t think I can 100 percent say there are win-or-die games, but certainly we have an expectation of improving from last week,” Lagos said.

OPPONENT

San Antonio Scorpions have pace going forward and play long passes to their lone striker Omar Cummings at midfield with the expectation that he can hold up play, and they can move forward as a unit. Don’t expect a lot of crosses from the Scorpions, who play down the middle of the pitch, taking players on at the top of the box and pulling the trigger whenever they have a clear glimpse of goal. The Scorpions’ midfield can be extremely potent moving up the pitch. Led by 2015 Best XI selection Rafael Castillo, when the Scorpions are in rhythm they are difficult to stop.

Defensively, questions have to be asked of San Antonio. They have conceded five goals in two matches. They play a rough style at the back and have found themselves in trouble with the match official several times in just two matches. The Scorpion defenders dive into tackles, leaving goalkeeper Jon Kempin alone in back to stop an onslaught of opportunities from opposing attackers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jonny Steele – The Northern Ireland midfielder had the best goal-scoring opportunity of the season for the Loons in the first five minutes of the opening match against the Rowdies, but since then has been relatively quiet. With head coach Manny Lagos continuing to call his number, Steele needs to play with more energy moving forward and create opportunities for his teammates in the final third.

Pablo Campos – The top goalscorer in the series for both San Antonio and Minnesota, Pablo Campos has come off the bench and played as an attacker for United in both matches in the 2015 campaign. Campos is still looking for his first goal since coming back from a knee injury in October 2014.

Omar Cummings – The Jamaican forward has notched two goals in two matches this season and is the target man for the Scorpions. Cummings has an impressive resume in North American soccer and is a clinical finisher in the penalty area, scoring twice already this season.

Jon Kempin – On loan from Sporting Kansas City, Kempin has had a difficult start to his career in San Antonio. Kempin was caught out of position against Indy Eleven last Saturday and gave up a goal from 40 yards that was seen across the nation. After giving up 2.5 goals a match, fans of San Antonio will be hoping for more out of their goalkeeper this weekend, who was recently with the United States Under-23s.

Billy Forbes – Forbes has looked dangerous early this season, but has been kept off the scoresheet thanks to solid defensive efforts from both Indy Eleven and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

MATCH PREVIEW – MINNESOTA UNITED VS. SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS

The San Antonio Scorpions are the reigning NASL Champions, which is indicative of what they are capable of as a team. Like Minnesota, however,  they have struggled going forward – scoring just two goals on the season, behind only the Loons for the least goals early in 2015. The Scorpions match up against a Minnesota squad that has conceded just one goal this Spring Season.

“We’ve got to be aware of them, they have a very good team offensively – very good midfielders who have a reputation and they can be very dangerous with very little – you’ve got to watch out for every player,” United defender Cristiano Dias said.

For their part, the Loons have been abysmal going forward, with nothing to show from the first two matches of the season. Last week, United managed just two shots on net against Ottawa in a loss that left many fans shaking their heads. The players are optimistic that the work they’ve been putting in will lead to goals soon.

“I think once we get the first one in, they are just going to start coming,” United midfielder Miguel Ibarra said. “We’ve been practicing our finishing, so if we have a little bit of space we can finish – just seeing the ball go in the back of the net will help us.”

The mood throughout Minnesota United training this past week was determined and is ready to do better for its fans and perform at its highest level in front of what should be a packed National Sports Center Stadium this Saturday. The goals for the season haven’t changed – anything less than a win in The Championship Final will be disappointing.

“We’re excited for a lot of reasons – the bigger picture one is we left last year with a tough taste in our mouth from a good season, but losing here in the playoffs at home – we’re excited to get back out on the field for our fans, the club, and the community,” Lagos said. “There has been a lot of news both on and off the field in the last couple of months, the reality is we want to try to put a good product on the field for them – certainly on the sporting side from week to week.”

After a week of training at home and with a packed National Sports Center Stadium crowd behind them, the Loons are ready to move up the table and take the Spring Season back. Ready to buck the trend, United kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday, April 25, at NSC Stadium in Blaine.