Loons’ run of success has produced climb in standings
Minnesota United's turnaround from its 0-4 start to the 6-1-4 record it took into Saturday's game against Vancouver included seven points earned against Western Conference rivals Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles FC.
That's why the Loons climbed from last place and no points to as high as sixth place in the Western Conference entering Saturday's game against Vancouver in Salt Lake City.
They did so with home victories 1-0 over Seattle and 2-1 over Portland and Wednesday's last-minute, 2-2 draw at LAFC.
"We played three of the biggest and best teamsin the conference," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "To come through unscathed is great for the players, great for the club. As we say, those games are gone now. We have to concentrate on what's the next thing ahead of us and that's Vancouver.
"So it's important for us, we want to keep this run going. We've got a couple big games coming up at home after that. It'd put us in a really good spot if we were to go undefeated, certainly with this game starting on Saturday."
The Loons next play home games next Saturday against Houston and Aug. 14 against L.A. Galaxy.
Friendly skies
MLS mandates its teams charter flights rather than fly commercial to minimize contact in this COVID-19 pandemic world.
The Loons flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, stayed there overnight after Wednesday's game and flew to Salt Lake City on Thursday. They were scheduled to return home after Saturday's game.
"It's one of the things the players have been asking for in their CBA (collective-bargaining agreements)," Heath said. "It will be interesting to see what happens when everything gets fully back to normal. We've got people who look after us at MSP really well. But the fact we can drive to the airport, walk on and get off and we're on our own timetable is a huge, huge plus for all the teams."
Home away from home
Saturday's road game actually was a neutral-site game in Salt Lake City that Heath called "not particularly" beneficial for his Loons. Vancouver already had played seven "home" games in Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto stadium because of the pandemic.
Heath was more interested to see how his players would react to play without spectators again.
"It was a terrific atmosphere at LAFC and I know we all like themselves back in the picture," Heath said. "We're expecting a real tough game. We have to approach it in the right matter. If we have to motivate ourselves playing in an empty stadium, then that's what we have to do."
Go the distance
Ethan Finlay's 90-plus minute performance Wednesday was his first complete game since a second-round playoff game at Sporting Kansas City last December.
"He put an incredible shift in," Heath said. "He's a great professional. He's one of them guys you never worry what you're going to get from him. He really is a top professional."
Not quite a mile high
Back at altitude, does Salt Lake City's 4,300-foot elevation still affect the Loons coming back through a venue in which they played in late May? Particularly for a team playing its third game in eight days?
"Well, it doesn't for me on the sideline," Heath said. "A side effect, maybe that might come into play as the game unfolds. I would think we'd most of our subs at our stage. Playing at altitude, I know a lot of the players do get tired. So we'll see how we go."
