The Cherries are coming. Minnesota United FC announced today that they will be playing their second international friendly of the summer when they host Premier League side, AFC Bournemouth on July 20th.
The Loons recently played host to Club León at Target Field, but they will play against Bournemouth at the National Sports Center, their regular home. To date, this is the only American preseason match announced for the English club. Minnesota has previously hosted two other British clubs: Swansea City in 2014 and the Minnesota Thunder played against Burnley in 2008.
Bournemouth were one of the breakout performers of the 2015/2016 Premier League season. Though they only finished 16th, it was the club’s first ever top-flight campaign, one which they played with verve and panache.
The Cherries were brought from the basement of the English Football League by their manager Eddie Howe, who has overseen their triumphant rise from the fourth division to the EPL. For some U.S. Men’s National Team fans, the Bournemouth match will offer a chance to watch the young American prospect, Emerson Hyndman, play for Bournemouth. Hyndman signed for the club this summer after two years at Fulham.
Loons’ Sporting Director, Manny Lagos, said the team had put out feelers for another international opponent through some of the contacts they developed from their previous friendly against Swansea. When they heard Bournemouth would be based in Chicago, they pounced.
Lagos said the Swansea match and United’s preseason tour in 2014 helped build credibility with clubs like Bournemouth to make these friendlies happen. “We’re starting to grow and network in terms of how we run events,” he said. “They heard about Swansea and were excited to play us.”
The match adds to an already packed schedule as the Loons look to secure a spot in the NASL post season. The Bournemouth match will be sandwiched between home matches against Indy Eleven and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
But Lagos views this game as helping, not hindering their league goals. He said, “I think it’s the time of the season where you’re not traveling and the guys can have quality minutes against quality opponents it only makes you better.”
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