In this week’s recap of Minnesotans playing professionally: Miller features while Mallace is stuck on the bench, Akale returns to the starting eleven, and Kallman is on the move.
The Seattle Sounders hosted the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the Western Conference Finals. Although the Rapids lost the game 2-1, they did come away with the vital away goal before returning to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park where they were undefeated this season and only gave up seven goals. Eric Miller started at right back and went the distance.
Miller did not push up into the attack as much as he has in previous games with the Rapids, but he did send in two dangerous crosses and nearly set up Shkëlzen Gashi in the second half. Miller was kept fairly quiet defensively as the Sounders tended to attack up their right side through Nicolas Lodeiro or straight up the center, but he did finish with a pair of interceptions and clearances. The biggest involvement Miller had in the game was keeping Jordan Morris onside for his goal. Morris timed his run well and found himself just in the gap between Miller and Axel Sjoberg when Cristian Roldan released his shot.
In the first leg of the Eastern Conference Final, the Montreal Impact took a 3-0 lead, but allowed Toronto FC back into the game with two goals in five minutes. The Impact do have a 3-2 advantage, but Toronto only needs a 1-0 win at home to advance to the MLS Cup. Unfortunately Calum Mallace did not make it into the game. Even after Toronto made a pair of midfield subs and began to turn the flow of the game in their favor, the Impact chose switch out their striker instead of shoring up their own midfield.
Mukwelle Akale played the first half for Villarreal C in a 3-2 win over Rayo Ibense. Villarreal is still undefeated, but have not moved up from third in the table. The team has scored the most goals so far this season, but their defense has not had as strong of a start, allowing 16 goals in 15 games.
In offseason movement, Kassey Kallman was traded to the Washington Spirit along with teammate Kristie Mewis. In return the Boston Breakers receive defender Megan Oyster and the 3rd and 9th overall picks in the 2017 NWSL draft. Washington and Boston will also swap the 1st and 2nd spots in the Distribution Ranking order.
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