Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake were locked in two close exhibition games in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday — picking up where they left off in two MLS Cup Playoff matches last fall.
In the first 60-minute scrimmage between more experienced players on each side, the Loons won 1-0. In the second session, RSL came out ahead, 1-0.
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Midfielder Joaquin Pereyra — who did not register a goal in 402 MLS minutes last season — scored for MNUFC. On the break, the Argentine ran in behind the RSL defense and slotted a low shot into the net.
“He had a couple of good moments,” head coach Eric Ramsay told the Pioneer Press. “We’ll certainly be challenging him this year to be more productive when it comes to goals, assists, chances created. That is the basis of why we brought him here.”
In the first hour Wednesday, United used a pair of center forwards — Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi — up top, a departure from the one-forward formation Ramsay used primarily last season.
“We want to make sure we are flexible with how we look on the front,” the coach said. “We want to be able to play with two forwards and players underneath.”
Ramsay said Yeboah and Oluwaseyi were “a real handful” for RSL. Pereyra, who often played as a left midfielder last season, was more central as a No. 10 on Wednesday.
Dotson involved
Midfielder Hassani Dotson started the first exhibition Wednesday, showing he has no change in standing with Ramsay after he requested a trade last week.
“I’m keeping my relationship with Hassani very focused around what is happening day to day on the football pitch,” Ramsay said. “Not thinking too much beyond that. While Hassani is here and a part of the group, then I’ll almost treat him as if none of that is bubbling away in the background.
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“He is a player that is important to us. He is a player who can really contribute on his day and someone that is continuing to do so. There is no hint between him and I of there being anything untoward. We are preceding as things were.”
Ramsay acknowledged it’s a “tricky” situation with Dotson and the club, saying, “There is an elephant in the room there.” But, he added, Dotson is working hard and has not been a distraction during practices in California.
“I’ve not had (a player) in this exact position since I’ve been here, but you can recall some similarities in other situations (primarily as an assistant coach at Manchester United).” Ramsay said. “I fortunately can focus on the technical side of things.”
Two tournaments
After MNUFC’s first team did not compete in the U.S. Open Cup in 2024, the Loons’ top group is back in the national tournament this year. United will join the 96-team field in the Round of 32 on May 6-7.
MLS said Tuesday it has doubled the number of teams in the competition from eight last year to 16 this spring; the league took heat a year ago for scaling back its role in a tournament that is entering its 110th edition.
MNUFC also will participate in a scaled-back Leagues Cup with teams from Liga MX. After all 29 MLS teams were in last year’s North American tourney, only 18 MLS teams will compete with the 18 Mexican clubs this summer between July 29 and Aug. 31.
Briefly
Robin Lod is recovering from an illness/medical issue and has only done some light work in California. The plan is for the MLS all-star to ramp up in Blaine next week and get his first minutes in friendlies in the Coachella Valley Invitational in mid-February. … Maplewood native Devin Padelford started as a left-sided center back in the first hour session Wednesday. Jefferson Diaz, a regular starter a year ago, was with the second group. … Joseph Rosales registered the assist on Pereyra’s goal; Rosales was second on the team with seven assists in 30 MLS matches last season.
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