Minnesota United FC topped visiting Chicago Fire 2-1 with goals from Ibson and Sam Nicholson. Minnesota found itself above .500 for the first time in team history.
A brisk but pleasant day in Minnesota greeted the Loons for their first home game of the 2018 season. While there was still snow in the upper deck of TCF Bank Stadium, there was a warmth in the air that was in stark contrast to last year’s home opener against Atlanta United FC.
The question on lips of the late arriving, sold-out crowd would be, will the performance of the Loons be different from last year?
Lineups
Adrian Heath has found a lineup that he likes, and stuck with it against Chicago, with the only change being second half sparkplug Miguel Ibarra starting in place of the injured Kevin Molino in the hybrid number ten/second striker role. Francisco Calvo and Michael Boxall were in the middle of the defensive four, with Jérôme Thiesson and Tyrone Mears out wide.
Midfield pairing Ibson and Rasmus Schüller were tasked with controlling the middle of the field, while Sam Nicholson and Ethan Finlay were on the wings. Christian Ramirez was the striker up top.
Chicago were missing two of their top players, with Matt Polster out with an injury and Bastian Schweinsteiger home in Chicago with his wife as they expect their new child.
1st half
It’s like a boxing match, sparring with each other. -Coach Heath
In the early going, Minnesota and Chicago played cagily, not willing to give up too much to the other team. Minnesota knew that their weakness was in the center of the field, so Schüller and Ibarra were often coming back to help support against runs and passes into the box.
Chicago played a high press, but Minnesota was still able to bring the ball forward without resorting to long balls. Instead, the Loons worked the ball up carefully, trying to find a way through the tight lines of Chicago.
While Minnesota tried to be patient, the best chance for the home side would come from a long pass from the center. Ibson sent a great long ball to Finlay after a quick break held up by Ibarra. Fire goalkeeper Richard Sánchez came way out to try and prevent Finlay from getting the ball, got a head on it but could not clear it. Finlay put it into the box, where it was cleared but not out, and Ibson’s rising shot went just over the right corner of the goal.
After that, Chicago settled in, and looked to be the better team for the last 15 minutes of the half.
Chicago started to string together series of passes, leaving Minnesota chasing the ball. While Minnesota struggled to clear the ball out of their half, Chicago could not muster much to threaten Lampson’s goal. Their best chance came on a shot that was always high and wide.
The teams headed into the half knotted at nil-nil, both likely thinking they could tilt this match in their favor.
2nd half
While last year Minnesota would come out of the break and often give up a careless goal, this season United has looked much more ready to play. From the whistle to start the second half, Minnesota was the better team.
It would take 10 minutes for the Loons to break the stalemate. In the 55th minute Ibarra chased a deflected shot by Finlay into the right corner. His cross into the box found an open Ibson, whose header was stopped by Sánchez. The Fire goalkeeper could not keep hold of the ball, and Ibson tapped the rebound into the net to break the stalemate.
Chicago did not lie down after going down in the second half. In the 59th minute, after Schuller’s clearance was blocked, Ibson and Boxall ran into each other trying to get the ball away from the top of the box. Unfortunately for the home side, the ball fell to Nemanja Nikolic, whose shot was blocked, but rookie Elliot Collier was able to put the rebound back into the goal to even the game at one apiece.
Minnesota did not wait long until Sam Nicholson headed home the winning goal off a great centering cross from Ethan Finlay. Minnesota had success all day along the right side, with both goals coming from that side of the field.
The Minnesota crowd at TCF Bank Stadium tends to grow with the game, and as the Loons’ lead lasted longer into the second half, and the Fire’s play became chippier, the crowd grew louder and louder.
On corners in the second half it felt like the entire crowd were on their feet, waiving their scarves.
As the game wore on, and the teams waited for the center referee to blow his whistle, the reality began to set in. Minnesota was above .500 for the first time in their history in MLS.
After the whistle, the stadium rose as one and belted out the loudest rendition of Wonderwall yet.
Three stars
Three Stars:
#1. Ibson
#2. Schüller
#3. IbarraAll about that midfield. #MINvCHI pic.twitter.com/yrhiVmuJ5I
— Fifty Five One (@FiftyFiveOne) March 17, 2018
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