#-1: United FC (Last Week: -2). It was nice to see the Loons finally play a Match where the victory didn't seem in doubt. In a reversal of roles on Saturday, it is the team's No. 10, Emanuel Reynoso, that took two feeds from Striker Luis Amarilla in bracing in MNUFC's 2-0 Win over D. C. United. (Wayne Rooney had not assumed his role as Manager yet and was thus not on the Touchline because his work visa had not come through yet, but he was in attendance watching the Game from a suite.) They are now unbeaten in their last five Matches that count, and believe it or not, they sit fourth in the West. Considering how shitty they were not too long ago, that is mind-blowing.
Jeremy Rushing, founder of local soccer website Sota Soccer, has this excellent breakdown as to how United FC has turned things around. Basically, no one else was stepping up earlier in the season, and so when opposing defenses locked down on Reynoso, the whole Offense grounded to a halt. But Left Back Kemar Lawrence has found chemistry with Left Winger Franco Fragapane and Amarilla has finally found his scoring touch (and, as last Saturday showed, some passing creativity as well), and that loosened up the keying around Rey.
But there is one other thing I have noticed, and I don't know if this tactical switch is also a reason the Loons have got their groove back. False 9 Robin Lod has become a Defensive Midfielder for the past several Matches now. I believe his new role was born out of necessity, particularly the season-ending injury to team Swiss army knife Hassani Dotson. He hasn't scored in the past several Matches, but he appears to be holding his own in front of the Backline, using his dribbling and sturdy frame to break up runs and get inbetween passes. He has found a rhythm with fellow DM Will Trapp ...
... and that rhythm may be tested. Trapp appears to be out for this/Saturday night's tilt at Houston. Moreover, the Friendly United FC played Wednesday night vs. Premier League club Everton may have taken more of a toll on the team than initially thought because of who hobbled off the pitch. I didn't see it in front of me, but apparently Jacori Hayes suffered a season-ending injury during the contest on a hard tackle. He was an early substitution for Reynoso, who, after opening the scoring with a Penalty Kick past Toffee Goalie Jordan Pickford, was taken out in the First Half walking gingerly and holding his knee. He is questionable for the Match against the Dynamo.
Trapp, Hayes, Dotson, maybe Reynoso -- add in Romain Metanire still not back 100% and the injuries really are mounting for the Loons. In that context, this squad holding down fourth in the West right now is a goddamn miracle.
#-2: Twins (Last Week: -1). The baseball Nine did not go into the All-Star Break on a good note. They took the only Game of their four-Game series versus the White Sox at Target Field Saturday, but then got blasted Sunday afternoon by a score of 11-0. They lead Cleveland by 1 1/2 Games as of press time, but they are 3-7 in their last ten showdowns. And it seems as if the entire team are exhausted. Maybe the All-Star Break gave everybody a much-needed rest (well, besides All-Stars Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton -- they played in the All-Star Game; Arraez got a Hit on a grounder that ate up San Diego Padre Jake Cronenworth, and Buxton followed Yankee Giancarlo Stanton and was both the "to-back" of back-to-back Home Runs off Dodger Tony Gonsolin and the winning Run in the American League's ninth consecutive victory over the National League, 3-2), because the season basically starts now ... with an extremely rare two-Game weekend set in Detroit (like I said in last Week's WMNSS, the Twins are an outlier in that they resume their Year today/Saturday as opposed to Friday or, in some cases, Thursday). The Twins then have a midweek twofer in Milwaukee, then have a trio starting Friday in San Diego.
#-3: Lynx (Last Week: -3). Their recent hopeful run of form was stopped in its tracks with a pair of humbling Losses, at Washington Sunday and then at home to Connecticut last/Friday night. They still trail Phoenix for the final spot in the playoffs by two Games, but these decisive defeats over this past screening Week may prove that this club just isn't very good.
There are only eight Games left in the regular season. Minnesota plays two this Week -- the second of a two-Game home series with the Sun tomorrow/Sunday evening, and then at Atlanta Thursday.
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