Previewing Houston Dynamo vs Minnesota United with Northland Soccer Journal
(image via Minnesota United FC)
The Houston Dynamo face a tough midweek test as they welcome Minnesota United to town. We talked to our friend Bridget McDowell from Northland Soccer Journal to get some insight on the Loons ahead of tonight’s match.
Bayou City Soccer (BCS): Minnesota is coming off a big 4-1 win over Miami last weekend. How big was that game for the team to show they are a contender in MLS?
Northland Soccer Journal (NSJ): Saturday's win was massive in terms of showing how the squad maintains composure under pressure and how they've learned to play (in Robin Lod's words) "as an 11." But Lod, Michael Boxall, and head coach Eric Ramsay all emphasized after the match that this was another MLS league match resulting in the same three points as in previous wins and that there is still two-thirds of a season to play. They got a day of excitement but then it was back to training to prepare for a couple busy weeks of conference and USOC matches.
BCS: Eric Ramsay is continuing to impress as Minnesota's head coach. There have been some rumors about him moving back to Europe but how has Ramsay transformed this Minnesota team into what they are in 2025?
NSJ: Ramsay's name seems to be floated every time a head coach position opens up in England - Southampton most recently and Swansea City before that. Following the Swansea City rumor, he emphasized that he and his young family consider Minnesota home and have no plans to leave. From what I have heard, nothing has changed at this point in time.
United would lose a lot more than a manager if Ramsay were to leave. From day one, he helped them to sculpt a sorely needed identity as a squad. In previous years, we heard a lot about individuals needing to step up or certain players needing to be present in order for the squad to come together in keeping with the game plan. Now though, players talk about how each man is expected to do whatever is asked, regardless of who is or isn't available, and the veterans (Michael Boxall, Wil Trapp, Robin Lod) have stepped into higher leadership roles on the pitch to help Ramsay's plans come to fruition. They really are a unit now, from the captain of the Starting XI to the guys on the bench, and right on down to the second team and academy.
BCS: Tani Oluwaseyi looks to have blossomed into one of the better forwards in MLS. How good has the young Canadian been for the Loons and how has the attack around him helped him play so well?
NSJ: The arrival of Kelvin Yeboah has really helped to free up Tani Oluwaseyi up front. He doesn't have to work quite as hard box-to-box as he did last season so he's free to carve out space in the final third and focus on the finish. Now we finally get to see how well Tani sees those spaces and how he can put himself in the right position to finish an opportunity. He's on track for a banner year - 5 goals and 8 assists in 12 appearances compared to 8 goals and 5 assists in 28 appearances last season. Now that Joaquín Pereyra is hitting his stride, the Loons' offense will only get more dangerous.
BCS: Speaking of Canadians, Dayne St. Clair and the Minnesota defense has allowed just 11 goals this season. What has made the Loons backline and goalkeeper so well with their mix of veterans and young players?
NSJ: Dayne St. Clair has continued to improve his leadership year after year and his shouted instructions are more confident. Michael Boxall also seems more confident in his role as veteran centerback/mentor, anchoring a line of younger defenders and wingbacks like Anthony Markanich, Bongi Hlongwane and Jefferson Diaz. The backline has been a revolving door for years, with Boxall and DSC holding the longest tenure. Anyone willing to slot in to the back 3/4/5 will get some confidence from those two, and a few have even spared Boxall a blush or two.
BCS: Are there any key injuries or suspensions for tomorrow's match and what do you expect to see as a lineup?
NSJ: MNUFC have no suspensions to be served on Wednesday and no one on the bubble for yellow card accumulation either. Anthony Markanich will likely be out with an ankle knock. We haven't received any updates on Jefferson Diaz, who limped off of the field during the Miami game after an aerial challenge that dropped him flat on his back, but I err on the side of "no news is good news" in these scenarios.
My lineup prediction: Dayne St. Clair / Nicolás Romero, Michael Boxall, DJ Taylor / Carlos Harvey, Wil Trapp, Robin Lod, Joaquín Pereyra, Julian Gressel / Kelvin Yeboah, Tani Oluwaseyi
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We want to thank Bridget for her time and wish our friends in Minnesota the best of luck tonight.
