Positives
Team shape. Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath said post-match that Saturday’s first-half performance was on par with last week’s sterling 3-0 romp against Real Salt Lake, but for a different reason: he said the team’s overall shape — a.k.a. positions and movement as a group — and its forward pressing were superb. He said it’s something the team has been working on at training for a few weeks and he feels it’s slowly coming to fruition.
Negatives
Making it hard on themselves. Collen Warner’s red card could have been avoided, both by Warner himself and Heath. Warner shouldn’t have even attempted the tackle that got him sent off, while Heath should have substituted his cautioned center mid to avoid this issue.
Coach rating out of 10
7 — Ultimately his team selection and tactical setup did the business for United against a staunch opponent. Though it must be said that NYCFC was a much weaker opponent, having clinched playoffs earlier in the week and resting their star man David Villa. Also, on a different occasion, Heath might have been punished for not substituting Warner off quick enough to prevent him from getting a second yellow.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Bobby Shuttleworth, 5 — Frankly, really didn’t have a part to play on the night and from numerous Minnesota United perspectives, that’s a good thing.
RB Jerome Thiesson, 7 — It’s no surprise that a defensive group featuring Thiesson performed well. Right now it’s just a matter of durability for the 31-year-old.
CB Michael Boxall, 7 — It’s becoming more an more likely that this central pairing will carry over to next season. Both look increasingly comfortable together and both have been solid for long stretches of the campaign.
CB Brent Kallman, 7 — His position remains stout, nullifying aerial danger at an impressive rate.
LB Francisco Calvo, 7 — Was solid throughout and closed down space quickly, stymying any threat from New York’s right side.
CM Collen Warner, 4 — Played his role well on the night, especially considering he was playing in a two-man pivot in the center of a 4-4-2. But his second yellow was careless, and getting disqualified from the match put his team under duress.
CM Rasmus Schuller, 7 — The Fin continues to be a bedrock for Heath and everything United have done well as of late. He’s a locked in to be a key contributor going into next year.
RW Miguel Ibarra, 9 — For much of the game maintained a 100 percent passing sore, not to mention his pinpoint cross, which led to the opening goal. He may be playing his way into a starting spot in 2019.
LW Alexi Gomez, 5 — In fairness, it was his first game back in two months, still, he provided little going forward and consistently looked to be a liability in possession.
ST Darwin Quintero, 4 — In a rare series of events, the Colombian just seemed to be a shadow of his usual self. As Heath echoed postgame, Quintero’s standard is incredibly high and games like this will sometimes happen. Heath said he was delighted with his star player’s work rate all the way through.
ST Angelo Rodriguez, 8 — Great performance from United’s No. 9 even if both his goals were the result of gifts. The first gift came in the form of a picture-perfect delivery from Miguel Ibarra, which may go down as his best cross of the season. The second gift was an ill-advised back pass directly to Angelo, leading him to a 1-on-1 breakaway with the keeper.
Substitutes
RWB Eric Miller, N/A
CM Harrison Heath, N/A