Fresh off just their second loss since early May, Minnesota United is looking to bounce back on Tuesday against one of the team’s that has been near the bottom of the Western Conference table for much of the season. For head coach Adrian Heath, however, the match at the San Jose Earthquakes won’t be an easy one.
In fact, Heath thinks that a change in formation coupled with some strong results in recent weeks has San Jose playing some pretty good soccer.
The Earthquakes haven’t lost since June 26, a stretch of seven matches where they have two wins and five draws. The two wins are impressive, having beaten playoff sides in Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders.
“They have slightly changed the way they play a little bit, they are not as man-for-man all over the field and in some of the games they are playing five at the back and the five at the front just get after it,” Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath said to reporters this week.
“It’s a bit more of a hybrid from where they were, but they will see it as a good opportunity to get in and around where we are as a league. They have had some good results of late, so it is going to be tough.”
Prior to this past weekend, Minnesota United has lost just once since May 8. The 1-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy on Saturday afternoon was discouraging given the club’ recent strong run of form.
Truth be told, Minnesota probably deserved more from this weekend than dropping all three points, but the play of goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann proved decisive for the Galaxy. In his first start of the season (and fifth of his career), the 24-year old goalkeeper had seven saves including several highlight saves to get the shutout and win for his side.
“Our ball movement was outstanding, I thought Reynoso was lethal in the second half. I thought there were a lot of really good performances,” Heath said.
“We made a mistake for the goal, we took a backwards step rather than a forward one and it cost us dearly, but overall when I look back there were a lot of positives. That’s what I’ve been speaking to the players about, yes it’s a disappointment, but now we have to start another one. Its not ideal on two days preparation to go to San Jose – who get after you at home the way they play – its going to be tough. I have every faith that we will be able to come again.”