Major League Soccer kicked off its 30th season Saturday, with Minnesota United dropping points to LAFC at BMO Stadium.
Despite a disappointing result as analyzed in the key takeaways, four MNUF players performed impressively in the tight season opener.
The Loons lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Carlos Harvey positioned to handle any threat Denis Bouanga might pose.
This tactical approach, one of the things the head coach revealed as his favorite aspect of the squad, kept the Loons in the game until the 78th minute when Jeremy Ebobisse broke the stalemate.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane delivers a defensive masterclass.
Hlongwane delivered a standout performance for the visitors, prompting a FotMob rating of 7.3.
He dominated defensively, registering the most tackles (4) and winning the most duels (10), the best record in the match.
His defensive statistics also paint a solid picture, with a 100% tackle success rate, four clearances, and one interception.
Hlongwane’s 50% dribble success rate and perfect long-ball accuracy showed a glimpse of his two-way skill, making him the best for Minnesota against LAFC.
Read more: Minnesota United head coach linked with Championship vacancy
Will Trapp dictates the midfield
Captain Will Trapp earned a solid 7.0 rating for illustrating the mindset shift he believes could define Minnesota’s 2025 season.
Trapp performed well in the midfield, recording 83% passing accuracy and successfully completing 40 out of 48 passes.
The veteran midfielder also created one chance even though his assist odds were placed way below 1.
His defensive duty was also admirable. He won 75% of his tackles and 67% of ground duels, which showed that he could still control the midfield and offer security to the defense.
Carlos Harvey does his work.
Carlos Harvey delivered a stellar 85-minute shift that earned him a 7.2 rating.
The defender displayed some outstanding passing precision, managing 90% passing accuracy and completing 18 of 20 attempts and all his long balls.
Harvey’s five clearances, two interceptions and three-headed clearances proved crucial defensively.
Also, he demonstrated why Eric Ramsay trusted him to help keep LAFC’s dangerous attack at bay, considering he won six out of nine of his duels.
Dayne St. Clair, with a heroic performance between the posts
Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair gave the Loons a fighting chance with a 7.1-rated performance. Out of the six shots on target he faced, St. Clair made five crucial saves.
If only the offense were as sharp as the defense, St. Clair’s heroics could have earned the Loons a point away from home.
With seven recoveries and 44 touches, the keeper remained active throughout the match despite LAFC’s eventual breakthrough.
Read more: How Eric Ramsay is redefining Minnesota United
What next
Notwithstanding the defensive bright spots, Minnesota’s offense fell short of producing meaningful chances.
Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah struggled to influence the game, managing just one shot on target in 90 minutes.
Looking ahead to the fixture against CF Montreal, Yeboah has to fine-tune his hold-up play to draw midfielders into the attack.
Oluwaseyi must find new ways of escaping the opponent’s defenders and position himself for quick counterattacking chances, however few they might sometimes be.
The wingbacks, too, have to be more creative and link up play to unlock Montreal’s defense.
If we can maintain the defensive solidity we showed in game week one and work on the offensive misfit, turning impressive performances into points will be a no-brainer.