In their first road game of the season, the New York Red Bulls drew 1-1 against Real Salt Lake and will now visit Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field, which will mark the Red Bulls’ first game in that venue. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Here are the Keys to the Game, presented by Honda:
Elevate Number of Scoring Chances
Even though the Red Bulls took the early lead in Utah, they were unable to create a vast number of scoring chances, that could have allowed them to extend their lead.
Against RSL, New York finished the game with four shots, two of them on target.
Minnesota will not be an easy opponent, as they showed in their 5-2 win over San Jose Earthquakes this past weekend; they’re a team that can live without the ball and still cause a lot of problems in the final third.
Players like Kaku and Florian Valot will need to get more touches on the ball, so the team can generate dangerous plays.
Be Alert on Set Piece Plays
Of Minnesota’s eight goals, three of them have been scored on set piece plays. Center-back Ike Opara has scored two goals in the present season, and both came off set piece plays in the win against the Earthquakes.
Goalkeeper David Jensen made a spectacular save last Saturday, which prevented RSL to score off a corner kick, but there were other plays that required clearances off the line from Sean Davis and Kyle Duncan.
Without a doubt, Minnesota will be a serious test in the set piece department, and the Red Bulls can’t afford to make the same mistakes the Earthquakes committed in Week 2.
Keep a Close Eye on Luis Amarilla
In 2019 while playing for Ecuadorian side CD Universidad Católica, Paraguayan striker Luis Amarilla scored 19 goals.
His goal scoring abilities were well known before he set foot in MLS, and so far, he’s responded with two goals in two games for MNUFC.
Amarilla is a striker who’s capable to offer solutions with or without the ball. He doesn’t shy away in starting the team’s attacks and is always ready inside the box, waiting for a good cross to bury the ball in the back of the net.
On top of the two goals he already scored, Amarilla also has one assist. After scoring two goals on the road, he’ll be searching to grab his first goal at Allianz Field, as MNUFC host RBNY in their home opener.
