Positives
Darwin scored. Minnesota United’s talisman entered the game on a five-game goalless drought. His goal was the lone bright spot in a game bereft of any positives for the Loons.
Negatives
Playing on the road. It continues to amaze how poorly United fare away from home this season. At home they appear capable of playing with any team in MLS; away from home, the Loons look like they belong in a lower division. This divide must be among the top items on Adrian Heath’s priority list this offseason.
Coach rating out of 10
4 — Heath enlisted what many would agree was his strongest starting XI available to him, and he was rewarded by them with a stiff kick to the face. It’s hard to know who’s more at fault: a coach incapable of recreating home field performances or players who woefully underperform after they’ve been on a plane.
“It’s pretty hard for me to try and explain how bad we were in the first half in probably all aspects of the game,” said Heath. “It was like men against boys at times. Second half, we got a little bit of a response out of the group and showed a little bit more of what we like. But as I said, too little, too late, not good enough.”
Rightly or wrongly, it has to ultimately fall on Heath, as it’s he who will lose his job if this dreadful home/road split continues in 2019.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Bobby Shuttleworth, 3 — Didn’t provide any saves early in the match when doing so could have potentially turned the tide.
RB Jerome Thiesson, 2 — Appeared as listless as his teammates throughout the match as he provided minimal energy defending or getting upfield.
CB Michael Boxall, 2 — Him getting brushed aside in a physical tussle (normally his strong suit) for the first goal was a killer.
CB Brent Kallman, 4 — Failed to mop up enough of the numerous messes left by his teammates.
LB Francisco Calvo, 3 — Playing out wide was supposed to free Calvo to do more bold, game-changing things. Lately, he’s been far too quiet considering his stature in the squad.
CM Fernando Bob, 5 — Among the few to come away from this match relatively untarnished.
CM Rasmus Schuller, 3 — Lacked his usual bite in the tackle and failed to pick helpful, incisive passes.
CM Maximiano, 2 — His primary function in the team is to prevent nights like this.
RW Miguel Ibarra, 5 — Didn’t do much wrong but also didn’t provide much dynamism ether.
ST Darwin Quintero, 5 — Appeared up for the match, but getting any semblance of help was in short supply. Had the defense held up even a little, you figure he could have maybe stolen the game.
RW Angelo Rodriguez, 4 — Worrisome that he appears to be the type of player who can only perform at a high level if the rest of the team is clicking, a front-runner, if you will. United has plenty of those. It’s the catalyst type they need more of.
Substitutes
WB Alexi Gomez, 5 — It was a rare off night from Thiesson, who was substituted at half. Alexi provided a spark when he entered the fray, but the game was a lost cause at that point.
CM Ibson, N/A
CM Harrison Heath, N/A
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