Allianz Field’s exterior LED lights were set to blue during Minnesota United’s first night game at their new St. Paul stadium Wednesday, and after a 0-0 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, that color matched coach Adrian Heath’s mood.
Through two home games in front of capacity crowds, including 19,779 on Wednesday, the Loons have managed two ties, meaning only two of a possible six points.
“I thought we were the most dominate team against a very good team,” Heath said. “I thought it’s two points we’ve lost.”
The Galaxy came in tied for the stingiest defense in MLS, allowing only seven goals in seven games. United applied pressure Wednesday, racking up 13 corners and 12 total shots but only one managed to get on frame. In the end, the Loons were shutout for the first time in eight games this season.
The Loons fell to 3-3-2, stretching its winless lull to three matches, but Wednesday’s result came against a hot Galaxy team that had won five straight, a run that started with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on March 16. It also represented their best streak since 2014.
After giving up seven goals in the last two games, Minnesota’s persistently beleaguered defense was able to take satisfaction with its second clean sheet this season, and their first since the season’s second game on March 9.
“I’m fed up with hearing it,” Heath said about the defense being the club’s crux for a third straight MLS season. “I’m sure you’re fed up with talking about it because I know I am. But the clean sheet was welcomed.”
The Loons’ seven goals in the last two games included the 3-3 draw with New York City in the stadium opener on April 13 and the 4-3 loss to Toronto FC on Friday.
“I’m going to look at it from the last two game standpoint,” Ike Opara said. “This was progress. If we play like that, I’ll take our chances more often than not. That has got to be the standard. That has got to be the norm.”
Galaxy superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who missed the first matchup against Minnesota, came in second in MLS with seven goals, but despite the Loons’ previous defensive problems, Ibrahimovic had three shots and no real threats outside of a problematic header that caused Loons keeper Vito Mannone to scramble back in the 24th minute.
“I wasn’t there for that, so he was lucky there,” Opara said.
In the first half, the Galaxy had 60 percent possession and the only two shots on goal, but Minnesota had eight corner kicks, with Opara connection on two threatening headers. His header in the 29th minute was defended by Jilian Araujo.
“I’m right there,” Opara. “If the ball is there and the service is there, it’s no excuses for myself and other big guys to get on the end of it.”
Heath felt like after the initial corner didn’t produce results, there were many second-chance opportunities for the taking, too. “We’ve put the ball in the right spot and we’ve had the players in the right spot,” he said.
Earlier, Angelo Rodriguez put a shot off the side netting in the eight minute, and in the 11th, Abu Danladi’s heavy second touch doomed a great breakaway opportunity.
In the second half, Rodriguez and Darwin Quintero had, after cutbacks, good looks that weren’t converted.
Heath made three attacking substitutions in the second half, brining on Miguel Ibarra for Kevin Molino — who made his first start since an anterior cruciate ligament team in March 2017 — Romario Ibarra for Rodriguez and Ethan Finlay for Abu Danladi. They still couldn’t crack the Galaxy.
The Loons made five changes to its starting lineup after their heated loss to Toronto FC on Friday. Two changes were forced with the red-card suspensions of midfielder Jan Gregus and Francisco Calvo. They watched Wednesday’s game from a third-level suite.
Eric Miller came in at left back for Calvo, while Rasmus Schuller filled in for Gregus in central midfield.
Opara returns after needing seven stitches in a collision in the Allianz Field opener and missed Toronto game. He was inserted into the lineup, with Michael Boxall, who gave up the game-winning goal to the Reds, going to the bench.
“They’re a good team,” Heath said, showing his perspective included positives. “They’ve got good players. Their midfield three are as good as anybody you will face in the league. The kid out wide, (Uriel) Antuna has pace and puts you on the back foot and then Zlatan. We handled Zlatan quite well.”
