Set Pieces on the Road a Familiar Recipe for Another Minnesota United Loss

Jul 7, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Dynamo defender Philippe Senderos (4) and Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) battle for the ball during the second half at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

After Minnesota United’s loss to FC Dallas on June 29 in which the only goal was scored on a header after a corner kick, head coach Adrian Heath noted that the four of the previous six goals the team had allowed had come via set piece.

Fast forward to Saturday night in Houston and that number has risen to seven of the previous 12, as once again Minnesota’s defense of corner kicks proved inadequate and they lost its eighth straight MLS road game, 3-0 to the Dynamo.

The 3-5-2 formation of the two previous games held firm for a third straight game, but Francisco Calvo’s suspension for yellow card accumulation meant that Tyrone Mears was utilized as the third center back. Mears has only played this season at outside back, and Houston found much more joy attacking than either Dallas or Toronto had.

While Houston’s first two goals both came from the head of Philippe Senderos, the threat from Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto was ever-present and United’s attacking threat from Alexi Gómez and Miguel Ibarra was negligible.

There were no jaw-dropping goals from Darwin Quintero, and while United’s attack looked promising, the familiar tune of no final ball and no goals after a good start played loud and clear right up to Senderos’ opener in the 36th minute.

Heath would certainly have mentioned in his postgame media that “goals change games,” as he so frequently has this season. Minnesota again did not score and again allowed a goal from a corner, as Senderos got free from Michael Boxall to smash home the first goal from close range.

Houston continued to be on top after the halftime break, and as soon as they received another corner in the 52nd minute the recipe was familiar. Senderos got past Boxall, and there was nothing Bobby Shuttleworth could do about the defender’s powerful header. The Loons were down 2-0 and the game was as good as over.

Jul 7, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota United midfielder Ibson (7) controls the ball as Houston Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez (8) defends during the second half at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Elis added a third goal in stoppage time after a pathetic defensive miscue, but it was just window dressing. Quintero’s threat after his majestic performance on Wednesday was minimal, Christian Ramirez and his ever-present substitute Mason Toye were non-factors, and United again went out with a whimper.

This loss drops Minnesota to 1-8-0 in the MLS season on the road, with the single win coming in the second game of the year, March 10 at Orlando City. United are the worst team in MLS on the road, with Real Salt Lake (1-7-1), Colorado (1-6-1) and Philadelphia (1-6-1) the only teams close.

Reassuring efforts like the win at TCF Bank Stadium on Wednesday can only go so far.

Even in that game, Toronto’s third goal in stoppage time was a goal from a corner kick, to put that little bit of fear into United even in a game which they had dominated and deserved to win.

The set piece problem needs a solution, as does the lack of goals from the striker position. Ramirez has scored four goals on the season, with only one coming in a win — May 26 against Montreal — and neither Toye nor Abu Danladi have scored. Quintero cannot score a crazy goal or two every week.

Jul 7, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez (21) shoots the ball during the first half against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The questions up and down the squad will continue to be asked as the MLS secondary transfer window opens on Tuesday. There are few members of the team whose positions should be considered safe on current form: arguably only Quintero and Shuttleworth for certain.

The good news is that United’s next three MLS games are at home, plus Wednesday’s international friendly against Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica. The Saprissa match will likely feature many Minnesota players who do not regularly feature in the MLS, simply because the fixture list is too crowded.

After this week’s stretch of three games in nine days, the three-game homestand of Salt Lake, New England Revolution and Los Angeles FC comes over an eight-day period. The games are at home, and Minnesota will need to show something significantly better than Saturday’s display to keep the fading dream of playoff soccer alive.


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Jul 7, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Dynamo defender Philippe Senderos (4) and Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) battle for the ball during the second half at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

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