NOTE: This appeared first at SoccerCentric.

On Sunday, I was in Kansas City, to watch Sporting KC play Houston in an afternoon matinee. Friend of the blog Michael Rand wrote about the experience for Page 2, but a short summary: the atmosphere was electric, and so many people showed up that it was a good thing the game started late or, thanks to traffic, we would have missed the opening 15 minutes.

Michael attempted to capture the experience, to quantify it as part of a discussion about whether Major League Soccer is a “major” sport. By television dollars, it’s on the fence; by average salary, it’s near the line; attendance is high, but you can find areas to quibble there. Ulitmately, I’d agree that MLS is not yet on the level of the four “major” professional leagues in North America, in that the league isn’t yet awash in the sea of money that follows the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB around.

That atmosphere, though. If you had been there on Sunday, you wouldn’t question whether MLS is a “major” league, because to me and to the other 20,875 people in Sporting Park, it felt like nothing but. I’ve been to Seattle and Kansas City this year, two of the best atmospheres in MLS, and there’s no doubt left in my mind that it’s a major league. And it kills me that some soccer fans seem to see the MLS, or following a European club team, as their only chance to be part of that.

The announcement of the design for the new Vikings stadium brought a fresh round of speculation about the possibility of MLS coming to Minnesota. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to see a major-league team here someday – but having an MLS team is not a precondition of having an atmosphere like the one that I experienced in Seattle, or in Kansas City. Minnesota already has a team – one that regular blog readers will be familiar with – and there’s no reason that going to a United game couldn’t have that same atmosphere.

Yes, United’s league – the second-divison North American Soccer League – is not on the level of MLS. But the skill level has nothing to do with the fan experience; there were no fans in Kansas City on Sunday that enjoyed the game less because the play was not quite on the level of the Premier League or La Liga.

What I’m trying to say is this: if you’re a soccer fan, you would have enjoyed the game on Sunday. You would have enjoyed the chanting, jumping, screaming die-hards in the Members Stand, whether you were one of them or just another fan in the stands. Major league or not, Sunday’s game is the kind of thing you want to be a part of.

There’s no reason that same atmosphere can’t come to Minnesota, with or without an MLS team. But you, the soccer fan – you have to show up. It’s not going to happen if you stay home and wait.

Goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel will make his first league start of the season tonight for Minnesota United FC, following a strong performance Tuesday night in the US Open Cup.

Van Oekel was the team’s regular goalkeeper for most of 2012, but lost his starting spot this season to free-agent pickup Daryl Sattler. Tuesday, though, he made two of the team’s best saves of the season against Des Moines; in the first half, he had to backpedal to tip away a long shot that was destined for the top corner, and in the second, he managed to keep out a header from point-blank range, getting down low to his right to push a shot around the post.

Tampa Bay scored three goals last week against Sattler – including one in which he tried to punch the ball out of danger but knocked it straight to Rowdies midfielder Shane Hill, who scored. Even last week, Sattler blamed himself. “At the end of the day, I’m the last man back there,” he said after the game.

The injuries pile up

Every week, it seems like one or two more players end up on the injury report for United. This week, it’s center back Kevin Friedland and midfielder Lucas Rodriguez who are out for Saturday, in addition to the long list of previously injured players.

Center back Connor Tobin, who has missed the last three weeks with an ankle injury, is with the team and is in a late battle to be ready for the game. If he can’t go, presumably Brent Kallman – whose first professional game was last Tuesday – will start at center back alongside Cristiano Dias, as Kyle Altman remains out with a concussion.

In the midfield, Aaron Pitchkolan remains with an ankle injury. Simone Bracalello, like Tobin, is also questionable, and with Max Griffin still recovering from a hamstring injury of his own, without Rodriguez the team is a little short of wingers. Michael Reed and Bryan Arguez will likely start again in the center, but if Bracalello can’t go, the team will have to mix and match out wide.

Up front, Etienne Barbara is also out. Tuesday, Pablo Campos and Geison Moura – who is on a three-week contract – combined well after Moura came on in the second half. If Moura doesn’t get a place in the starting lineup, Travis Wall could be in line for another start.

Gameday details

Tonight’s game is at 6:30 pm, Central time. You can watch at United’s official site. Tampa is tied for first with 11 points; Minnesota is in fourth with eight.

Every Minnesota United FC player looks forward to games against MLS teams. They all want to prove they belong at a higher level, and playing against those teams offers the best opportunity they’ll get.

The Des Moines Menace, United’s opponent tomorrow night in the first round of the US Open Cup, is two levels below Minnesota. It’s a team made up of amateur college players, all of whom are dreaming of a future in the pros, and so their hunger to beat United is roughly equivalent to the Minnesota players’ desire to beat an MLS team.

Any Open Cup game is a big game, but for the Menace, it’s even bigger. In order to find out more about the team, I emailed Chris Cuellar, a Des Moines Register sports journalist. He was nice enough to answer a few questions.

1. A lot of NASL players really get up for games against MLS teams, in the Open Cup or otherwise, because it’s a chance to show they belong at the top level. Is the same true for the Menace, playing against a pro team?

Absolutely. The franchise takes plenty of pride in its four straight Open Cup appearances, and the professional club matchup is even more significant as this season’s Menace has a record number of NCAA Division I players. Opportunities to show they deserve a job after college don’t get much better.

2. Who are the players to watch for Des Moines – the guys that can really turn the tide in a cup game like this?

The offense has yet to really take off, but Jamaican strikers Jimmy Tulloch and Nico Wright are strong, traditional targets that are capable of breaking through at any time. Left back Albert Edward takes plenty of risks coming forward because he’s got speed that has blistered Des Moines’ amateur opponents.

3. How big are the Menace in Des Moines – well-known, or a minor attraction?

A well-known brand in a small soccer community. The same contingent of fans support the team regardless of form, but a lack of history and top-level success in Des Moines keep the Menace a niche attraction.

4. How does the Menace recruit their squad each year? Do they tend to come back year after year in college, or does the roster begin from scratch?

A new general manager and coach meant greater turnover this year and just eight returning players. Recruiting reaches all levels of college soccer and some players that have MLS combine or practice squad experience and can maintain amateur status. It’s quite an undertaking each season, with divisional opponents located in Canada adding to all the paperwork.

5. Like United, Des Moines has a large number of games in a short amount of time. How does the team prioritize – does the league or the cup come first?

Unprecedented depth has allowed coach Mike Jeffries to rotate the squad some, with the cup taking priority at this point in the season. United presents a huge opportunity and an upset would potentially mean one of the biggest games in franchise history. Management will deal with a bland 1-0 win on Saturday if the team is upset-ready on Tuesday.

 

My thanks to Chris for answering my questions.

Dropping two points after Carolina scored a late goal was annoying for Minnesota United. Losing last week to Fort Lauderdale, the last-place team in the league, was a reality check for the team. But after United lost 3-2 against Tampa Bay, the team’s frustration was evident.

For most of the game, Minnesota was in control. After the Rowdies took a 1-0 lead just seconds before halftime, their coach, Ricky Hill, told the TV broadcast, “That’s the first bit of quality play we’ve had in the first 45 minutes.” United keeper Daryl Sattler came off his line to clear a cross, but his punch went straight out to Tampa midfielder Shane Hill, who swung the ball back in towards the goal. Two sliding Minnesota defenders couldn’t get a foot on it, and it was 1-0 Rowdies.

“I came out to punch it, I felt like I got distance on it, but as the goalkeeper you want to get that ball wide,” said Sattler. “He tucked it in nice. The guys come back just like they’re supposed to when I come out for a cross, and they just couldn’t keep it out. I’d like to get that one back so I could punch it wide. I came, I won it, it just didn’t land where we wanted it, and he capitalized. That’s one personally I’d like back.”

United’s first goal, meanwhile, was a thing of beauty. Simone Bracalello – who has been so, so good this year – found some space on the left-hand side. He ran into two backtracking defenders, so he spun to hold the ball up for a second, then chipped the ball past both defenders, right into the path of Michael Reed.

It was Reed’s first goal as a pro. He said, “Simone made that unselfish pass and led me through, and I looked over my shoulder and I saw one of their center backs starting to close, and their keeper was at the near post, so I just went for a sliding shot, and it went in.”

Following the goal, though, it was like the Minnesota defense switched off. The ball fell right outside the penalty area, and defender Justin Davis didn’t close on the ball – and before the ball got to him, Luke Mulholland nipped in for Tampa Bay.

Said Rowdies coach Ricky Hill, “When the ball broke to him and he intercepted it I think in behind the left back, and when it bounced up, I thought, yeah, he’s going to try to volley that, because he does it in training every day. I’m not surprised. In the game, when you have to execute, Luke is magnificent. He’s our top scorer, I don’t know how many he’s got, three or four, but his workrate, his effort, his exuberance that he brings every day to the club is vital for us.”

Once again, though, Bracalello brought Minnesota back, this time ten minutes later. Pablo Campos won a header, and the ball fell in amidst two Rowdies defenders. Bracalello stuck a foot in, the ball popped out behind both, and suddenly the Italian was away on goal by himself, scoring to equalize for Minnesota for a second time.

He’s been Minnesota’s best offensive player this year – in part, because he’s playing as a winger, something that dates back to last year’s playoffs, a change he reminded me of after the game. “Before I was a forward, more like Pablo,” he said. “Now I am starting from the back and I can see the play. I don’t have my back to the goal. That’s completely different for me.”

“That position is mine,” he said, referring to the wing. “I was feeling good [playing up front], but it’s not my position.”

For that final half-hour, I was expecting a MInnesota goal any minute. They went close several times – even center back Cristiano Dias had three shots at goal – but then, just as the clock got close to the 90-minute mark, Keith Savage had the ball in the back of the net for Tampa Bay.

I asked defender Kevin Friedland to walk me through the goal. “They played the ball wide – I actually thought the guy was offside,” he said. “I was tracking with, I think it was [Rowdies forward Carl] Cort, into the box. There was service for the man that was behind me, I just tried to get a foot on it – and I got a foot on it and set it right up and Savage came in and smashed it.”

It was a wild game, but in the end, most of the Minnesota players just looked like they wanted to punch things. Said Hill, who was of course delighted, said, “I’m happy to get all three points, but Minnesota can feel aggrieved to not get anything from the game.”

Walking wounded

Aaron Pitchkolan left the game in the first half after a challenge in the penalty area. Postgame, he was walking as gingerly as possible. Though he said he’d just twisted his ankle, he looks like he’ll have a tough time coming back any time soon.

I also saw defender Kyle Altman – he was wearing a pretty awesome neon pair of sunglasses, presumably to protect his eyes from the Metrodome light following his concussion. Local soccer expert Brian Quarstad reminded me after the game that Altman had another concussion early this spring, while he was trying out with DC United.

Altman is going to med school this summer. He needs his brain uninjured. Here’s hoping he gets well.

Friedland back in the swing of things

With Altman out, Friedland – an assistant coach in whatever spare time he can manage – came back into the starting lineup – and after 90 minutes, he looked completely exhausted. “I’m tired,” he said. “It’s been awhile.”

I asked if it was tough making the transition from coaching to playing, but he brushed that aside. “I’m a player when I need to be. I’m a player every day. I might not play as much as I used to, but I think when I’m called upon I have to perform just like everybody else does. We’re in a situation now where I’m needed, and I played. Can’t say I was great, but I thought I was solid, and unfortunately we didn’t win.”

A busy schedule

There’s no rest for Minnesota, who plays the Des Moines Menace on Tuesday, then travels to Tampa Bay on Saturday for an immediate rematch. I asked United coach Manny Lagos if it’d be good to get right back on the field, but he said, “We’re having some injury issues and we’re light in a lot of areas on the field. I think from a team standpoint I think the guys want to get back on the field so that we’re better than what we’ve shown, certainly. From a mental and physical standpoint, we’ll see.”

Sattler is more excited. “We’ve got work to do and we’re excited to play Tuesday and then get back to Tampa again, it’s going to be revenge,” he said. “Tampa and Minnesota, it’s a rivalry. We may be wearing a new badge, but it’s the same game. That’s the beauty of this game. There’s ups and downs – we’re in a slump and we need to get out of it.”

Another quick injury update for Minnesota United FC – and this one is pretty bad news. I just talked to head coach Manny Lagos, who told me that defender and captain Kyle Altman suffered a concussion in training on Tuesday, and will not play today.

Lagos said that, since Tuesday, Altman’s symptoms have gotten “worse, not better,” which has to throw his status into doubt for the forseeable future. Minnesota sports fans have seen a number of local players, like Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, be affected by concussions for years, not days or weeks.

With the potential for four games in the next week and a half, the injury couldn’t come at a worse time for Minnesota. Altman’s first-team partner, Connor Tobin, remains out with an ankle injury, leaving United without either of its first-choice center backs.

Today, veteran defender Kevin Friedland will come into the side alongside Cristiano Dias, who has filled in for Tobin over the past two weeks. Dias joined Minnesota in 2011, so it’s not the first time the two have ever played together – but it certainly hasn’t been a regular occurence. And with so many games upcoming, now is not the time for United to have a shaky partnership at the back.

There’s no word on who will captain the team, with Altman out. In the preseason, both Friedland and defender Brian Kallman assumed that role, and it’s a fairly safe bet that one of them will do so today.