Minnesota United finished preseason play and went winless in three games at the Coachella Invitational after Saturday's 2-0 loss to Vancouver.
Minnesota United finishes winless preseason tournament with 2-0 loss to Vancouver
The games begin for real next weekend against FC Dallas for the Loons.
February 18, 2023 at 8:58PM
![The Minnesota Loons coach Adrian Heath takes to the field for an indoor practice at the Blaine National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. ] Elizabeth Flores • liz.flores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/E43CEM7OUURRWOCRSBUXRXCXYA.jpg?&w=712)
Loons coach Adrian Heath promised an 11 that would approximate next Saturday's lineup at FC Dallas. Newly acquired left-footed center back Miguel Tapias cleared his immigration paperwork and went straight into the starting 11 alongside veterans Kemar Lawrence, Michael Boxall and Zarek Valentin on the backline.
Wil Trapp, Robin Lod and second-teamer Molik Jesse Khan played in the midfield, with Khan starting while Kervin Arriaga was away pursuing a U.S. green card. Striker Luis Amarilla and wingers Franco Fragapane and Bongokuhle Hlongwane started up front.
Midfielder Hassani Dotson saw some second-half sub action on his road back from season-ending knee surgery last year.
The Loons lost their three games near Palm Springs, Calif., by a combined 7-1 score, although they played mostly second-teamers in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to San Jose.
They now head home, with suspended star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso absent, to train in Blaine for next Saturday's opener.
The Star Tribune did not send the author of this article to the game.
Minnesota started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.
