After a bad showing this past weekend in New York, here is how the Minnesota United will line up against Atlanta United on Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium:
Matt Lampson
Tyrone Mears, Michael Boxall, Francisco Calvo, Marc Burch
Rasmus Schuller, Ibson
Ethan Finlay, Miguel ibarra, Sam Nicholson
Abu Danladi
Bench: Bobby Shuttleworth, Brent Kallman, Carter Manley, Collen Warner, Frantz Pangop, Mason Toye, Christian Ramirez
Outside back Jerome Thiesson was a game-time call to play, so he must not be recovered enough from his left hip injury he endured about two weeks ago in a one-on-one drill during practice. While he joined back into training a bit this week, he wasn't able to complete a full session.
When Thiesson traveled but did not play at the New York Red Bulls this past weekend, that was the first game he missed since joining United for its second-ever game last season. His streak of 36 games was the longest in the club.
"That was really bad for me," Thiesson said of having to sit out. "I had this streak going on, and you want to extend it as long as you can. And I'm already happy I had the possibility to do it that long, of course, but then when the moment is here, even if the ijury is not that bad, perhaps, it makes it even worse."
Compounding that feeling was that Thiesson has family in New York who had come out to see him play. But instead he was sitting with them in the stands.
"It was not the best moment so far," Thiesson said.
Outside back Tyrone Mears is back in the lineup after his right calf pull late in the Chicago game.
"It's better. Obviously, not perfect, but I feel good enough to play the game," Mears said. "It's difficult because as you see here, we've got a new turf in the training ground, which is really good on the body. But obviously, the stadium is completely different. It's really hard. So I think it's more the body adjusting, but I'll get there. It was the same when I came from England to Seattle. I had never played on turf … and it took awhile for me to adjust. But I was fine after a few weeks."
Mears is playing his former team in Atlanta. Ramirez is also on the bench again with Danladi starting.
And here is how Atlanta will start:
