There’s a good chance that for the third time in the last seven seasons, Minnesota United’s home opener on Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls will be a white one.
Forecasts call for a high of 32 and an 80 percent chance of snow in Saint Paul, Minn., with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.
Not exactly prime soccer weather. To help out, the Loons are giving out free mittens to the first 15,000 fans.
Minnesota United (1-0-0, 3 points), coming off a bye after a 1-0 victory at FC Dallas on Feb. 25, also played snow games in its home openers in 2017, when six inches fell, and 2019.
“It’s pretty much the same as every game,” Loons midfielder Robin Lod said of dealing with the poor weather conditions. “You try not to think about those things too much and just focus on the game and do what you can do. It’s cliche, but it’s the same for everyone, so you just have to adapt.”
“That’s the sport that we play,” goaltender Dayne St. Clair added. “We’ve always had to manage the climates.”
St. Clair, who is also a member of the Canadian men’s national team, had eight saves to lead the Loons to a 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls last season.
New York (0-1-1, 1 point) has allowed just one shot on goal in 180 minutes this season but is still in search of its first victory. The Red Bulls opened the season with a 1-0 loss at Orlando City, which scored on a penalty kick by Facundo Torres in the 56th minute, and followed that up with a 0-0 draw with Nashville SC last Saturday night in Harrison, N.J., as goalie Carlos Coronel picked up his 23rd career shutout without having to make a save.
New York had several scoring chances against Nashville, including a header by defender Sean Nealis in the 38th minute that missed the net.
“In the end, especially at home, we have to score and we have to win games,” Red Bulls coach Gerhard Struber said.
“A silver lining to get the shutout that gives us some good confidence on our defensive ability,” Nealis said. “We want to get a win, especially at home, and hopefully we can get a win (Saturday).”
Minnesota United striker Luis Amarilla, who returned from Paraguay last weekend after obtaining his green card, practiced this week and is expected to play. All-Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso remains suspended by the MLS for remaining in Argentina and not joining the Loons.
–Field Level Media
