As Minnesota United finalized transactions this offseason, many of the players came in with MLS pedigrees. Midfielders Jeb! Brovsky and Ben Speas, winger Danny Cruz, and defender Damion Lowe have all stabilized their places in the starting eleven based off of solid play. However, the fifth MLS acquisition has spent as much time off the field as he has on it–but if he has anything to say about it, that won’t case for long.
During United’s season opener against Carolina RailHawks, Bernardo Añor collided with Kareem Moses and ended up concussed for the first time in his career. The knock kept him out the next two matches. “I’m still working on getting my momentum back. With all that time off, I had to make sure I was staying fit so that when my next game came, I could be at my best,” Añor remarked after Wednesday’s team training. “Now, I have no symptoms at all. This was my first concussion, so I was lucky. After a couple of weeks, I’m back to full ability.”
Añor joined the team on a loan from Sporting Kansas City this off-season and started the opener on the left wing. He’s already played five years in MLS, spending 2011-2014 with Columbus Crew before moving to SKC. Head coach Carl Craig likes the flexibility he brings to the club. “He’s dynamic. He can run at people, he can pick a pass. He’s not the whole package, but he does bring dynamism. When he came in against New York, he was initially going to press higher in an 8 position. He moved to 6 after the red card and played amiably there as well.”
Along with the victory over the Cosmos, he entered as a second-half substitute again on the turf fields of Ottawa. Having played in MLS, he’s seen his fair share of questionable pitches.
“As a professional soccer player you have to be ready for anything,” Anor said as he looked over NSC’s turf indoor field. “It’s the same for both teams, and we have to adjust. In the NASL, there are a lot more turf fields, and we trained on one indoors at NSC. It’s not the best–it isn’t as good as playing on grass. The ball travels differently. You have to hit the ball a little bit differently, but after a few touches you find your rhythm.”
As he continues to make his stake in Minnesota, Añor hasn’t completely turned a blind eye to his former competition. “I follow MLS entirely, not just Columbus and [Sporting Kansas City]. Once I left KC, my entire focus went to Minnesota. Kansas City is left behind. We haven’t been in touch since we were finalizing the move. My main focus is with Minnesota.”
Carl’s Corner
- Looking back on Saturday’s match, Craig admitted that the field conditions may have changed certain elements of the game. That said, he wasn’t willing to denounce turf all together. “If it’s the stuff we played on in Portland, it’s not a problem. It was first-class, it was groomed and done right. Lovely. The stuff the other day was dry sticks–didn’t get any water on it. I’m not the biggest fan of it, I prefer playing on grass, but you’ve gotta play the field in front of you.”
- Last year’s match-ups against Jacksonville were both chippy and filled with goals. Memorably, Armada forward Alhassane Keita saw a red card for knocking Sammy Ndjock in the face with his cleat as a part of a 4-0 victory for Minnesota. However, both teams have dramatically remodeled rosters for this year. “They’ve got some quality moving the ball, but they’re still building. They throw a different system out every game, between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3. I’m more focused on what we’ve gotta do. We didn’t necessarily regress last week in the game but we’ve gotta create more.”
- While Minnesota dropped two points late in the game, Carolina was stunned in a home defeat against Fort Lauderdale. With this, Minnesota controls their destiny in the battle for the Spring title. “I’m well aware that we control the table. Last week, New York did us a favor and we needed to take advantage of that and we didn’t take it. However, Fort Lauderdale have done us a favor, and with this second chance we have to see it out. We have to play with a mentality where we have a point up and that we have to do our job. We did this last year [where we gave up late goals] and that pisses me off. It wasn’t conscious from the lads, however there has to be a sense of urgency. It’s a great opportunity to win this Spring Season because the Fall is so much more difficult.”
Match ratings
GK S. Ndjock: 4.9
While the most memorable moment of this game may have been a misplayed cross, Ndjock was incredibly solid in this game, probably keeping the team in the game for long stretches and earning Wes Burdine’s Man of the Match.
RB K. Venegas: 6.4
As usual, Venegas proved a reliable threat on the right side, notching an assist on Ben Speas’ goal. He won five duels on the day to go with two interceptions and a tackle.
CB T. Calvano: 5.7
Starting in Damion Lowe’s absence, Calvano looked like his usual self on the back line, completing 62 passes on the day (44% of which moving forward) and adding a pair of clearances and four interceptions.
CB B. Kallman: 6.0
Once again Kallman was the stabilizing force for Minnesota’s defense, completing 66 passes and winning half of his potential duels. He locked down the left side, spending the majority of his time just on the edge of the middle third.
LB J. Davis: 5.8
Davis was all over the backline, blocking a shot in the 82nd minute while adding three clearances, three interceptions, and seven recoveries. He wasn’t as active in attack and didn’t attempt a cross or shot during the match.
CM J! Brovsky: 5.6
Brovsky was credited with the own goal for Ottawa’s opening tally as an unkind deflection rocketed into the back of the net. Despite assisting on Christian Ramirez’ corner kick goal, it wasn’t Brovsky’s best match with Minnesota this season, but he had four tackles and an impressive 60-of-66 passing accuracy on the day.
CM J. Vicentini: 6.2
Vicentini’s 71 completed passes sprayed all across the field, with 25% going forward, 35% to the right, and 20% to the left. He won three fouls and didn’t commit any, using his grit to earn key set-pieces for Minnesota.
RW D. Cruz: 5.3
Working in tandem with Venegas on the right side, Cruz has looked much more comfortable after playing on the left for the majority of his career. He landed a shot on target in the 48th minute and was active in defense, making three key interceptions.
AM B. Speas: 6.3
Back in the goalscorer’s column, Speas was able to settle a Venegas cross into the back of the net with a well-placed one-touch finish. He added three more shots outside of the box and gave Ottawa’s backline fits all match long.
LW L. Laing: 6.3
“Clubber” Laing wasn’t able to have his usual success rate on crosses this week, with only one of his six attempts finding their target. All told, he had 46 touches on the day and allowed Davis to provide extra coverage in defense.
ST C. Ramirez: 6.4
Tying Venegas for Northern Pitch’s Man of the Match, Ramirez’ early goal was much more difficult than it seemed. He picked his angle well and was able to beat reigning Golden Glove winner Romauld Peiser off of Brovsky’s header. With just 17 touches on the ball, Ramirez was still a factor with two key tackles in defense.
S1: B. Añor (66′ for Cruz): 5.5
S2: S. Pinho (77′ for Speas): 4.1
S3: A. Pitchkolan (84′ for Laing): 5.0
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