Minnesota United are set to compete in the Major League Soccer (MLS) play-offs and there is an air of optimism that they could make history this season.
The Loons have been the nearly-men of MLS for far too long. However, with head coach Eric Ramsay in charge, things may finally be falling into place.
Minnesota are on course for a strong finish to the domestic campaign ahead of the post-season action. Read on as we analyse their chances in the play-offs.
Key Players Spearheading Minnesota’s Charge
.jpg){kind=link}
Since Nigeria-born Canadian striker Tani Oluwaseyi secured his big move from Minnesota to La Liga’s Villarreal, Kelvin Yeboah has shouldered the goalscoring burden for the Loons.
The 25-year-old has been in fine form this season, netting 13 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions. He has fired Minnesota to the play-offs with nine goals in 28 MLS games and will be looking to add to his tally in the last few games of the regular season.
Argentine midfielder Joaquin Pereyra has also been a standout performer this season. The 26-year-old has been pulling the strings in the middle of the park, establishing himself as the driving force behind the team’s surge into the play-offs
Pereyra has notched four goals and seven assists in 28 MLS games. He has been a consistent performer and is one of the first names on the team sheet.
Minnesota’s solid rearguard has helped their cause. The Loons have one of the best defences in the league, having conceded just 32 goals in 29 games.
Centre-back Michael Boxall has played a key role in helping Minnesota keep things tight at the back. Boxall’s experience has solidified the backline, helping Minnesota establish a platform for success.
Since joining the club on a free transfer in 2017, the New Zealand international has been an influential figure both on and off the pitch. He has racked up 270 appearances for the Loons, chipping in with eight goals and two assists.
The 37-year-old has become the club’s all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes played for the Loons across all competitions.
The Kiwi star has helped to keep eight clean sheets this season. He has recorded a respectable 54 percent success rate in ground duels and won 70% of his aerial battles.
He also averaged 2.4 ball recoveries and 6.7 clearances per 90 minutes. Boxall has led a backline that has frustrated some of the best attackers in the league.
With the Kiwi star calling the shots at the back, sports bettors in New Zealand will fancy Minnesota’s chances of going all the way in the play-offs.
Several football betting sites in New Zealand offer odds on MLS and many others will jump on the bandwagon when the post-season action gets underway.
The New Zealander’s leadership makes the Loons an appealing bet for Kiwi punters who prefer to back a dark horse to go all the way.
Minnesota set for a Thrilling End to the Season
Minnesota are heading to the play-offs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons after an entertaining 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers.
They toiled for a few minutes when Nicolas Romero turned the ball into his own net to give the Timbers the lead. However, Minnesota drew level just six minutes later through Robin Lod.
Ramsay’s second season in the dugout could not have gone any better, and he now has a chance to cap off Minnesota’s remarkable resurgence with their first-ever silverware.
With the Welsh coach at the helm, Minnesota have cemented their place among the elite teams in the Western Conference. Winning the MLS title would be the cherry on the cake.
The Loons are on course to secure home-field advantage for their best of three series in the first round. If that happens, it will boost their chances of going all the way.
Minnesota will need all the firepower they can muster to keep powering through the play-offs, but ending their trophy drought is not beyond the realm of possibilities this season.