Alex Bader
Minnesota United Loons will face a familiar foe in the Portland Trailblazers when they meet each other for their round 1 playoff game on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 at 4:30 p. m. central time. Portland is the fourth seed and Minnesota is the fifth seed. The winner will play Colorado at Dicks Sporting Goods Park on Thanksgiving day.
Minnesota and Portland have had a long history of playing each other, and another chapter will get written when they meet in the postseason for the first time.
The Loons' inaugural season opener was played at Providence Park back in March of 2017, The Loons lost that game by 5-1. Minnesota got their revenge later in the season with a 3-2 win over Portland in June at the TCF Bank Stadium.
In 2018, the Loons dropped their first matchup with Portland by a score of 3-2. However, later in the season, the Loons beat the Timbers by a score of 3-2 at home.
In 2019, Minnesota United played Portland in back-to-back games. The Loons won both of those games on home turf. Later in the season, the two teams played to a draw at Providence Park.
The Loons opened their season in 2020 with a huge 3-1 win over the Timbers, it was the Loons' first win at Providence Park. With the Pandemic affecting the season, it would be the two teams only meeting in the year 2020.
In the most recent season, Minnesota United picked up right where they left off, they swept the season matchup with a pair of wins over Portland.
The Loons have not lost to the Timbers since the 3-2 loss at Providence Park in 2018.
In a win-or-go-home game, it is huge that the Loons have the confidence to go and beat the Timbers.
It will not be easy and the Loons will need all of their players playing above expectations.
"Portland is a special team," said Goalie Tyler Miller. "They've always given us a true test and we've gotten some really good results against them in the last two years. Our ability to really stay disciplined when were {at Providence Park} has helped us a lot. They're a dangerous team to play against right now but I think we're all very confident in our own ability."
Minnesota United enters the postseason as the only team with a negative goal differential, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will lose. They have been a team that wins close one-goal games and they do it by gritty defending and quick counter-attacking play. The Loons will not have the majority of the ball but when they do have it they are often able to attack quickly and catch the opposition off.
Portland was dead last in possession throughout the season. It is going to be interesting who takes over the possession since both of these teams like to play without the ball.
The Loons come into the game as the underdogs even though they have had the Timbers number as of late. This is big in part because the Timbers come into the game on a 10 game unbeaten streak and have Blanco back in the lineup, who has revived the team. Blanco was out injured for both of the games where they played the Loons this season.
This is going to probably be the game of the weekend as each team has a great chance to win and each team has the players who can make a difference.
Portland is vibing right now, coming off three straight wins by two goals or more to end the regular season. Portland also had the second-best home record this season and has proved to be a hard place for visitors to win.
However, Minnesota has proved that they can win at Providence Park.
Blanco and Asprilla will need to be great for the Timbers to beat the Loons.
Minnesota has been up and down all season but they are coming into their form at the right time. Lod, Reynoso, and Trapp will need to lead the team and create the scoring chances. Miler has to shake off a couple of rough games to end the season and hope to find the same mid-season form that helped him solidify the goalie position.
Minnesota has the playoff experience of going to an away game and winning in the postseason. They won last year away at Kansas City by a score of 3-0 to earn their first conference final berth.
Reynoso became a superhuman last year in the postseason by grabbing assist after assist to help the Loons reach the Conference final.
If the Loons are to make a run this year, they will need Reynoso to have some of his best games just like he did last year. They will also need Robin Lod to have a solid game. Minnesota United will need Alonso and Trapp to shut down the Timber's midfielders who are quick and dangerous.
They will need to start hot and take the fans out of the game early. They need to strike first and put pressure on the Timbers. Portland has conceded the second-most goals among playoff teams, so if the Loons can capitalize on their chances and defend in their own half they should walk away with the win.
This game is going to be a nail-biter so make sure you tune in for the entire game.
I predict the Loons will win 3-2 because these two teams seem to like that scoreline.
GO LOONS!
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