As Major League Soccer’s season began on Saturday, some supporters of Minnesota United may have noticed something.
Atlanta United, darlings of last season’s MLS expansion, received a surprise 4-0 beating at the hands of Houston Dynamo and laughed a little bit. That laughter would have caught in their throats after Minnesota gave up two quick first-half goals, featuring familiar calamitous defense.
And while an unlikely second-half comeback made the final score 3-2 to the San Jose Earthquakes, many themes were familiar in this game.
Minnesota started the game with three changes from their final preseason outing against Columbus, two of which were rather surprising: Matt Lampson preferred to Bobby Shuttleworth in goal, and Abu Danladi over Christian Ramirez up front. Sam Nicholson for Collen Martin was the third change.
Danladi’s start was sure to draw scrutiny, and while he had a moment or two of impact, the lasting memory will be his exit less than half an hour into the opener after an assumed hamstring injury.
The opening twenty minutes of the game were better than many fans expected. Minnesota had the weakness in midfield that has become predictable and synonymous with the team while defending, but their attacking group had good control of the ball and were on the edge of creating chances with decent possession.
This was not a game where fans would see San Jose with the ball 70-plus percent of the time. Minnesota was involved and active.
The problems all struck within three terrible minutes. First was a strike from San Jose’s Danny Hoesen just above the box was a quality goal. Ultimately, Hoesen had far too much time to consider his shot as three Minnesota defenders were caught running the wrong way.
Less than a minute later, Francisco Calvo’s attempted clear was blocked, leading to an open cross. Valeri Qazaishvili (Vako) did not miss his chance to double San Jose’s lead.
As Danladi walked off the pitch a minute later for Ramirez’s entry, all good vibes from Minnesota’s positive opening were resoundingly crushed.
San Jose kept the pressure on, with another shot off the post and several more opportunities, before the cherry on top: a twisted ankle for Ramirez making it look like Minnesota would be left completely without a striker (rookie Mason Toye was not named to the matchday squad).
Ramirez would finish the game, but at that moment around the 35th minute, it seemed like all was well and truly lost.
Minnesota would finish the first half on the front foot and start the second there as well, as setpieces by Tyrone Mears continued to probe, as did Kevin Molino. Then, right as it seemed like the Loons would continue to get more chances, San Jose’s third goal again broke the momentum.
Minnesota’s defense was easily carved open once again. Yes, it was a beautiful goal and great teamwork by the Quakes, but Calvo and Michael Boxall have to be better and communicate more fluently.
The expectation at that point was that Minnesota would shut down, meekly going out into the night with another season-opening drubbing on their hands.
To their credit, they responded well, continuing to put pressure on San Jose’s defense, who gave them plenty of the ball and allowed more and more comfort for Minnesota’s midfield, who finally punished them through Molino in the 81st minute.
The goal seemed like a consolation prize, but Molino wasn’t done. A clever curving shot from outside the arena, when given space by Quakes defenders, beat Andrew Tarbell, and suddenly Minnesota had the chance to snatch a point from their season opener.
Minnesota dominated the final five minutes of the game plus the four minutes of stoppage time, with crosses and corners raining in, with even a 94th-minute corner that Lampson came up from goal to have a shot at. While they did not come away from Avaya Stadium with a point, the comeback and poise they eventually showed was reassuring.
However, the simple reality is that such a comeback would not have been necessary had the defensive failings of last season not come back with a vengeance.
Minnesota did not at all deserve a point from this game on the balance of play and the quality of chances created in the first eighty minutes. The lack of additions and Adrian Heath’s focus on team chemistry and cohesion does not look like enough yet to make United a much better team than they were last season.
