Darwin Quintero
The man can do it all offensively, from dribbling to distributing to finishing both in and out of the box. Few players outside of your Zlatans and Rooneys have landed so comfortably and easily in MLS as Darwin, and Minnesota has now built enough of a defensive framework around him (he’s… less interested in that side of the game) to compete for a playoff spot.
First win at Allianz
The Loons are undefeated at their new home, but only because they have shown remarkable resiliency there. A 3-0-3 record isn’t great, and it’s actually the road form that’s pushing Adrian Heath’s men up the standings. This would be a great place to grab three points before the Union face off with the rival Red Bulls.
End of the west
This marks the fourth straight match against a Western Conference opponent, and Philly won’t face another one until July. The west is a dangerous, uncertain place this season and the Union need to grab points off these teams when they can because the Eastern Conference has yet to settle and many of the sleeping giants — NYCFC, Atlanta, and Red Bulls — are recovering their form. If the Union are going to show they can go punch for punch with the best in the east, they need to hone their craft against those in the west.
The Union and Minnesota United trade blows on Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. ET on PHL17.
