Our prediction for this MLS match:
Minnesota United and New York City square off against each other at Allianz Field in what is expected to be one of the most exciting games of Sunday’s program. The Loons have been having their ups and downs of late, with the team losing to Seattle Sounders, sharing the spoils with Los Angeles Galaxy, while beating Dallas in their last league match. Minnesota aim to climb to the playoffs berth, but they will have a mountain to climb in Sunday’s clash.
All Hassani Dotson, Romain Metanire, Eric Dick, and Patrick Weah remain in the recovery room, but there are no fresh injury worries in the home team. The Blue Pigeons, on the other hand, are eyeing their fourth consecutive league win. New York City are seen as one of the teams to beat in the 2022 MLS season, and seeing that Valentin Castellanos is back from suspension, we are tempted to put our money on the in-form visitors.
Highlighted Player (Jukka Raitala):
Columbus Crew full back Jukka Raitala was born in Kerava, Finland on September 15, 1988. Raitala started his senior career at Klubi-04 and after making 22 league appearances for the club, he moved to HJK in 2007. After ending his spell with Helsinki, the Finland international signed a loan deal with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
During his spell with die Kraichgauer he appeared for the reserve team as well and in 2011 he was loaned again, this time out to Osasuna. On August 28, 2011 he made his Primera Division debut with los Rojillos playing as a left back against Atletico Madrid. Raitala played for the likes of Heerenveen, FC Vestsjaelland, Aalborg and Sogndal in the past as well he signed for Columbus Crew for the 2017 season.
The Columbus defender made his Finland debut on February 4, 2009 in a friendly against Japan. It has to be noted that he represented Finland at the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in 2009.
Highlighted Team (New York City):
New York City are an American soccer club and they have been competing in Major League Soccer since 2015. The Pigeons play their home games at Yankee Stadium and they are the second club in New York after the New York Red Bulls.
Famous Arsenal player Patrick Vieira took over the reins in January, 2016 and he helped the team finish the season in second place in the Eastern Conference. However, they were totally outclassed by Toronto FC (0-7 on aggregate) in the conference semifinals.
New York City chiefs have been pumping up a lot of money into the squad ever since the team began play in MLS and it has to be noted that the likes of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa played for the Pigeons in the 2016 season. New York City footballers wear sky blue shirts when playing at home, while the colour of the team’s away kit is dark blue.
Companies City Football Group (80%) and Yankee Global Enterprises own the club.