Michael Boxall and
Ramon Abila missing.
The club s highest-paid player, Abila was designated neither starter nor substitute in Saturday s 2-1 comeback victory over Portland and won t be part of coach
Adrian Heath s lineup for games Wednesday at LAFC and Saturday against Vancouver in Utah.
The Loons obtained Abila from Argentina s famed Boca Juniors team in April on a one-year loan that could end before that.
He played there with Loons star playmaker
Emanuel Reynoso before Reynoso joined MLS and Minnesota United a year ago.
At age 31, Abila is listed as the Loons highest-paid player in salaries published by the MLS Players Association in May with his total compensation of $1.1 million. That s more than Reynoso s $966,910 and
Copy shortlink:
Recently signed striker Ramon Abila is here. French first-division forward Adrien Hunou is on the way.
And on Friday, Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath said his club has made a deal for Argentine left-side attacker Franco Fragapane.
Heath called everything done and officially signed, but said the club is waiting for immigration paperwork to be finalized. As soon as it comes through and he can travel, he ll be on the next plane, Heath said.
Meanwhile, Fragapane continues to play with his Talleres team from Loons star Emanuel Reynoso s hometown of Cordoba.
Heath said Loons technical director Mark Watson was with Hunou in Paris on Friday, waiting for paperwork as well while he trains as guided by his new team.
Copy shortlink:
Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath threw everything he could Saturday night at his club s staggering season start and still couldn t find enough to prevent a 1-0 loss to expansion Austin FC.
He tried substitutions early and often after halftime. He turned to youth looking for some kind of spark. He turned goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair into an attacker in the opponent s 18-yard box late in second-half stoppage time.
None of it stopped the Loons from their first 0-3 start in a franchise history that included some dark days early in their existence.
None of it stopped them from being shut out twice in three games and outscored 7-1 in those games.
Copy shortlink:
Minnesota United signed first-round draft picks Justin McMaster and Nabilai Kibunguchy on Saturday, and then former Wake Forest striker McMaster went out and scored his second goal in three preseason games, in a 3-1 victory over FC Cincinnati near Orlando.
Each signed a one-year contract with three option years after the Loons moved up in the MLS SuperDraft to select them 17th and 18th overall. Saturday s victory made the Loons winners in three preseason games.
Coach Adrian Heath called both potential top-10 picks had either not been sidetracked by injuries. He called McMaster a potential No. 1 overall pick before he tore his ACL two years ago. Defender Kibunguchy played at Cal-Davis.