Star Tribune: Another 0-0 draw against Dallas

What could the Loons do at the end of the transfer window?

It’s a bit of an oddity that MLS has, effectively, two different trade deadlines. Rosters are frozen five weeks or so before the end of the season, but even beyond that, there are only two designated transfer windows during which Minnesota United can add players.

The secondary transfer window (July 24-Aug. 21 this year) is often when bigger-name players from Europe arrive, since that’s the European offseason. But the primary transfer window closes Wednesday, so the Loons take on FC Dallas on Saturday knowing this is the team’s last chance to reinforce the squad — at least until the season is almost three-quarters over.

Minnesota draws 0-0 with Dallas

For the second week in a row, the Minnesota United defense was impenetrable — but its offense was punchless, and the game Saturday at Allianz Field ended in the Loons’ second consecutive 0-0 draw, this time with FC Dallas.

The Dallas starting lineup was missing former MLS MVP Lucho Acosta and a designated player, striker Petar Musa. Dallas was also missing two former U.S. national team players and several other recognizable names.

So, easy pickings for Minnesota United, undefeated in seven games and returning home from a two-game road trip as conquering heroes?

Not hardly.

More from Eric Ramsay and others about MNUFC’s draw

Minnesota United is on an eight-game unbeaten run and has given up only one goal in the past four games combined. Unfortunately, the Loons also have gone four hours of game time without scoring a goal of their own, and so the talk is less about what’s going well — and more about what needs to improve.