On an incredibly hot day, FC Dallas was the team that found a way to win against the home side Minnesota United. Roland Lamah scored the match’s only goal off a corner kick, giving FC Dallas the three points on the road.

Lineups

Minnesota has been struggling with the absence of Francisco Calvo in center back and now with Miguel Ibarra out with a red card suspension, in addition to all their other issues with injuries, the team was forced into a new look formation, with a back three instead of the typical back four.

Bobby Shuttleworth again was between the posts, but in would be Wyatt Omsberg, captain Michael Boxall, and Brent Kallman as the back three. Alexi Gomez and Tyrone Mears were the wing backs. The center of the field would be patrolled by Collen Warner, Ibson and Rasmus Schüller, with Darwin Quintero and Christian Ramirez up top.

First half

For the first fifteen minutes, the new formation seemed to work. Wyatt Omsberg had a great through ball that led to a scoring chance on goal. Without Mauro Diaz to create for the visitors, the 3 man back line heald up admirably, slowing the game down in the excessive heat.

FC Dallas never looked comfortable in attack, with Minnesota having a number of opportunities in attack, but never really threatening in the final third, with FC Dallas happy to concede corner kicks to a team that has struggled to threaten in dead ball situations.

Neither team had a really good chance on goal until Quintero’s through ball found a perfectly timed run by Schüller who couldn’t control the ball quickly enough to put a decent shot on net.

Second half

Both teams came out in the second half with a similar ethos to the first. Both were happy to sit back, allow the the other team the ball and try to capitalize on a mistake by their opponents and steal three points. With the heat making conditions difficult, both teams appeared to be happy to earn a point in this match.

Minnesota had the better chances in the first ten minutes with both Ramirez and Ibson putting shots just to the left of the goal. Two other crosses into the box were inches away from finding the foot of a Loon and giving Minnesota the lead.

Instead, FC Dallas managed to find a goal against the run of play on a corner kick. Lamah managed to get space from Ibson and headed home the match’s only goal.

Minnesota continued to press for the equalizer, with numerous shots going just wide of the goal. Coach Adrian Heath took out Omsberg and replaced him with the forward Mason Toye to exert even more pressure on the defense of the visitors, but Minnesota couldn’t find the back of the net.

Late in the game, Toye had a well struck ball knocked wide by the Dallas keeper, and he tried to get the team and the crowd back into the match. On the ensuring corner, Minnesota’s 13th of the night, the cross in was again handled easily by the Dallas defense and the crowd again quieted down.