Field Level Media
25 Mar 2023, 06:49 GMT+10
Minnesota United, one of five teams in Major League Soccer without a loss, will be without seven starters when its hosts the winless Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night in Saint Paul, Minn.
Coming off a 2-1 win at Colorado, the Loons (2-0-1, seven points) have been hit hard by having players being called up for international duty, including starting goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (Canada), key defenders Michael Boxall (New Zealand) and Kemar Lawrence (Jamaica) and versatile midfielder Robin Lod (Finland).
Minnesota also remains without 2022 All-Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who is suspended by the league after failing to return from Argentina for the start of the season for what the team has termed personal reasons.
"I will not make an excuse (of) the fact that we've got seven, eight players away this weekend," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "We have a squad of 28 players and that's why you have a squad of 28. At some stage, you're going to get called upon.
"I know what playing for England meant for me, and I would never stop the players from going and representing their country. I think it's something that we should be proud of, but when you're losing six, seven starters, it's not ideal."
Vancouver (0-2-2, two points) is one of five teams in MLS still searching for its first win and comes in off a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 18 in Carson, Calif. Tristan Blackmon scored on a header in the 14th minute for the Whitecaps off a crossing pass from midfielder Julian Gressel, who notched his third assist of the season.
The draw was a costly one for Vancouver, however. The Whitecaps lost starting forward Sergio Cordova in the first half to a right hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks.
The Whitecaps also will be without two players on international duty: midfielder Andres Cubas (Paraguay) and defender Javian Brown (Jamaica),
Minnesota United swept the two games between the two teams last season, 3-1 at Vancouver and 2-0 on Decision Day in Saint Paul, a loss that knocked the Whitecaps out of the playoffs.
"It's another tough, tough game on the road," Gressel told the Vancouver Sun. "I think of Minnesota, I think of the last game we had there last season. Obviously that stings a little bit that we couldn't come away with the win there to get into the playoffs."
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Mexico City Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico City Sun.
More InformationLONDON/NEW YORK CITY: American grocery bills may be headed higher as coffee and orange juice prices face upward pressure from new tariffs...
Forget dtente, Moscow must fight to the end Many now speak of humanity's drift towards World War III, imagining events similar to...
(Photo credit: Adam Cairns/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images) The Columbus Crew extended defender Andres Herrera's loan from Argentina's...
(Photo credit: Adam Cairns/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images) The Columbus Crew extended defender Andres Herrera's loan from Argentina's...
After much back-and-forth over several months, President Donald Trump announced on July 9, 2025, that he planned to levy a 50% tariff...
(250714) -- NEW JERSEY, July 14, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Cole Palmer (L) of Chelsea FC celebrates scoring with teammate Joao Pedro during...
LONDON, U.K.: American consumers and businesses could soon face the highest overall tariff burden in more than a century, according...
According to the Association for the Development of Industry in the Mezzogiorno, Italy's exports would face a reduction of nearly one-fifth...
Washington DC [US], July 15 (ANI): US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim on Monday (local time) that he stopped the escalation...
Boris Titov has called for urgent easing in monetary policy as investment climate worsens The Russian economy is showing signs of...
Forget dtente, Moscow must fight to the end Many now speak of humanity's drift towards World War III, imagining events similar to...
The US-led bloc lacks both the funds and weaponry to prop up Kiev, Francois Chauvancy says Washington's plans to funnel more military...