Loons’ extreme makeover falls flat in 2-0 loss at Houston

Minnesota United shuffled the majority of its starting lineup on Wednesday and the new mix of players weren t cohesive in a - loss to Houston Dynamo at Shell Oil Stadium Amid a congested schedule of nine games in days Loons made a striking eight different changes to its starting XI including five making their first starts of the season The makeover was a major reason Minnesota - - points had its two-game winning streak end at Houston - - points which came into the match in th place in the West Loons head coach Eric Ramsay reported he desired to prioritize fresh legs over in-form players on Wednesday while more regulars are expected to start Saturday versus St Louis City Ramsay added he had no regrets over the club he put on the field given how stifling the heat was in Houston Even with what is on paper your strongest organization the group that is in real rhythm the band that has played the large majority of the games so far there is no guarantee you are going to get a spark capacity and a real intensity particularly after the experience we had in a - win over Inter Miami on Saturday Ramsay declared With that considered and the conditions here I think on balance it was a justified way of looking at this battle The Loons defense conceded a goal on the final action of the first half On a recycled corner kick Devin Padelford couldn t get enough direction on a clearance and Pablo Ortiz s header to the far post got over -foot- DJ Taylor s leaping attempt at a goal-line clearance Apple TV broadcasters Neil Sika and Lloyd Sam declared Houston coach Ben Olsen felt Minnesota was vulnerable in defending set pieces That was spot on Then in the second half Houston scored on another recycled corner kick with Felipe Andrade finding the back of the net in the th minute In the first half Minnesota was outshot - and - in shots on frame Trying to rectify the imbalance coach Eric Ramsay made a quadruple substitution bringing in more attacking-minded players Tani Oluwaseyi Joaquin Pereyra Robin Lod and Bongi Hlongwane in the th minute Striker Kelvin Yeboah had the Loons best chance in the st minute but his header went over the crossbar Related Articles Loons defender Joseph Rosales suspended three matches by MLS Loons at Houston Dynamo Keys to the match storylines and a prediction David Beckham disgruntled over Minnesota United social media posts Seven anecdotes from Lionel Messi s historic visit to play Minnesota United Lionel Messi scores but Minnesota United wins big - over Miami