Minnesota United-FC Dallas game preview
June 29, 2018 at 1:19AM
A tough test ahead
Preview: United (5-9-1), coming off a loss Saturday to what was then the worst team in the league (Colorado Rapids), now faces the second-best squad in the Western Conference in Dallas (8-2-5). United will be missing an important attacking piece in winger Miguel Ibarra, who is suspended. Striker Christian Ramirez said he and Darwin Quintero will have to continue to pick their moments of attack and find new areas to exploit without Ibarra. But potentially having a midfielder like Ibson back in the lineup should help control the game.
Players to watch: "They're not near the top of the Western Conference for nothing. But we did well against them last year. They came in here in the same situation last year. We managed to get a 4-1 result. So I'll more than settle for that this weekend." – United coach Adrian Heath.
Numbers: Before being shut out 3-0 by the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, Dallas had scored at least one goal in 15 consecutive MLS games.
Absences: For United, M Sam Cronin (concussion), D Francisco Calvo (national team duty), D Marc Burch (knee), D Jerome Thiesson (calf/Achilles), Ibarra (suspended) and F Abu Danladi (leg) are out while D Eric Miller (hamstring) is questionable. For Dallas, D Reto Ziegler (suspended), M Santiago Mosquera (hamstring), D Kris Reaves (hernia) and F Cristian Colman (ankle) are out.
Megan Ryan
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Minnesota started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.
