7 p.m. vs. D.C. United * BSN, The CW Twin Cities, 1500-AM
Loons vs D.C. United preview: Both sides await exciting newcomers
D.C. United are in last place in the Eastern Conference, but the announcement of incoming new manager Wayne Rooney may revitalize them.
![Wayne Rooney pauses while speaking during a news conference to announce him as the new head coach of MLS soccer club D.C. United, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/J2ME7RFN26TYNN6FRXBSJM3Z44.jpg?&w=712)
Preview
The Loons are 8-8-4 — including 4-3-3 at home — after Wednesday's 1-1 home draw with Sporting Kansas City ended a three-game winning streak. D.C. United is just 5-10-3, including 2-5-1 on the road, but has just brought in its former player and former Premier League superstar Wayne Rooney as its new coach. "The new manager coming in will give them a bounce, I would expect. They've changed the shape. They've changed the manager. I think it's a little bit of a different D.C. than it might have been a couple weeks ago," said Loons coach Adrian Heath. … The two teams have met only four times, with each team winning twice … The Loons are still waiting for newly signed right back Alan Benitez's immigration paperwork and don't expect it done by Saturday's game. Heath said the club is "still waiting again" in its bid to sign Colombian forward Mender Garcia. "We're in the hands of the immigration in all this and there's not an awful lot you can do." … D.C. United on Friday traded Julian Gressel to Vancouver for as much as $900,000 in general allocation money.
Injuries
Heath said Friday starting central midfielder Kervin Arriaga's ankle is improved, but not enough for him to play just yet. "At least another week, I would think," Heath said. Niko Hansen, Romain Metanire and Tani Oluwaseyi are all out with thigh injuries and Hassani Dotson and Patrick Weah are out for the season. D.C. United list Adrien Perez (foot), Bill Hamid (hand), Brad Smith (knee) and Ola Kamara (glute) as out, and Russell Canouse (thigh) and Jose Alfaro (ankle) as questionable.
Loons coach Eric Ramsay started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.