FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – All of Minnesota United FC's absences have again shaken up coach Adrian Heath's starting lineup.
Christian Ramirez
Miguel Ibarra, Ibson, Bashkim Kadrii
Collen Warner, Mohammed Saeid
Jerome Thiesson, Brent Kallman, Vadim Demidov, Kevin Venegas
Bobby Shuttleworth
Bench: Billy Heavner, Jermaine Taylor, Josh Gatt, Ish Jome, Abu Danladi, Collin Martin
So Thiesson switches from right to left-back and Kallman switches from right-side center-back to left. Demidov comes back into the lineup after sitting on the bench at Colorado and will wear the captain's armband.Saeid and Kadrii also return to the starting lineup.
Venegas said this wasn't the way he pictured making his first start and first appearance for United in MLS, but he's using this opportunity to prove he deserves a spot. "Viva" hadn't even made the match-day squad the past two matches.
"I've been working hard at practice, and I feel like I'm ready to step in at a minute's notice, which is what happened here," Venegas said. "watching Ibson, watching Brent [Kallman], I definitely was excited for them [playing well against Colorado last week.] … And it made me want to do the same if I ever got my chance."
Heath said even if not for the abundance of missing people because of injuries, national team call-ups and a suspension, both Ibson and Kallman would have solidified a spot in this week's starting lineup from their performances in the 2-2 draw at Colorado.
Heath said he knows Venegas, a holdover from United's North American Soccer League squad, has been "really disappointed" that he hasn't played, and the coach hopes the right-back's performance Saturday gives him a difficult decision to make next week.
This is also Shutleworth's first time playing as an opponent at New England after spending his whole career pre-United there, since 2009.
