United Finishes Regular Season At Home Aiming To Build Confidence For Postseason Run

Photo Credit: Minnesota United

One match remains this 2015 season, with the NASL postseason just around the corner. The Loons have already secured the third seed heading into the postseason. Saturday’s match will be a chance for Minnesota to gain some confidence and show improvement ahead of its upcoming semifinal match.

“It's important that we continue to get better every week to get ready for the playoffs,” Minnesota United head coach Manny Lagos said. “We're aware of the scenarios and we're preparing for those different scenarios to make sure that we're ready. We have to control what we can, which is the game this Saturday.”

Minnesota United’s season has been a tale of ups and downs. The Loons had an excellent preseason – winning a majority of their matches against some top-class opponents and scoring world-class goals. However, at the turn of the Spring Season, Minnesota sat disappointed in fourth place and underachieving in every aspect on the pitch. That all turned around this Fall Season, as the Loons went on an 11-match unbeaten streak and set a new NASL single-season scoring record with 52 goals in 29 matches. Minnesota is playing its best soccer just in time for the postseason.

OPPONENT

San Antonio has pace going forward and plays long passes to 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 center 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 2014 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 the league’s second worst goals against total, with 35 goals conceded. The Scorpions’ defenders dive into tackles, leaving their goalkeeper alone in back to stop an onslaught of opportunities from opposing attackers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Christian Ramirez – With fewer minutes in 2015 than his record-breaking 2014 season, Ramirez has been every bit as potent this season. His 12 goals are the second most in the league, with 11 of those goals coming in the Fall Season. Ramirez has been a bit quieter these last few weeks, but managed to slot away a penalty against the Atlanta Silverbacks this past Saturday. Expect Ramirez to press at striker on Halloween, looking for a goal in the run of play.

Aaron Pitchkolan – After serving a suspension last Saturday, United captain Aaron Pitchkolan will likely return to the starting lineup to close the season at NSC Stadium this weekend. Pitchkolan has lined up in defensive midfield and at the center of defense in 2015. He is a consistent player who keeps the ball well and wins tackles in good places on the field.

Omar Cummings – Cummings had a phenomenal start to the 2015 campaign, scoring goal after goal during the Spring Season. Things have slowed for the Scorpions’ striker during the Fall Season. Cummings has been held scoreless for 13 matches and will be looking to finish the season on a positive note.

MATCH PREVIEW – MINNESOTA UNITED AT SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS

Minnesota has a draw and a win against San Antonio in 2015, scoring six goals in two matches against the Scorpions. Matches have been high scoring, with very little to separate the two clubs.

Minnesota edged out San Antonio away from home in late July, scoring four goals in the first 50 minutes of play, but conceding late in a match that finished 4-3 and earned United three points. In San Antonio’s last trip to Minnesota the two teams drew 2-2, with each team conceding a penalty goal.

“I expect a tough game against a San Antonio team that is trying to finish the season out – those types of games are the kind that you have to manage the right way,” Lagos said. “I'm sure they'll come into the game ready to play as hard as they can and will want to finish the season in a certain way.”

With just seven wins this year, the Scorpions are last in the Combined Standings, and will not be able to defend their league title. San Antonio has had difficulty coping with player injuries and several departures in the offseason.

Several young players have stepped up in recent weeks, giving fans in San Antonio something to look forward to in future years. Kris Tyrpak notched his first career goal as a Scorpions player two weeks ago against Indy Eleven that was named the NASL Play of the Week.