For the talk about Minnesota United FC being a transformed team from 2017’s calamitous entry, the Loons are having a hard time differentiating results and goal counts from last year. Minnesota slumped to two defeats to close 2017, allowing three goals each to the Galaxy (3-0) and Earthquakes (3-2). This year? Four of their six games have seen three goals allowed--one with the same scoreline to the Quakes, another suffering a toothless shutout away (this time against Red Bulls). It’s fair to ask what changed between now and then.
The core of the back stayed mostly the same, with Francisco Calvo and Michael Boxall the preferred center back pairing when not on international duty and Jerry Thiesson moving leftward to accommodate Tyrone Mears on the right.