At age 29 and with 10 seasons in MLS, Minnesota United captain and defensive midfielder Wil Trapp is one of his team's most experienced and affable players.
Loons captain Wil Trapp aiming for better discipline after yellow card streak
Coach Adrian Heath returned to his usual 4-2-3-1 lineup after two games of experimenting with a 4-3-3.
April 17, 2022 at 12:46AM
And yet he entered Saturday's home game against Colorado knowing that one more yellow card assigned will earn him a one-game suspension.
Trapp received yellow cards in the first 10 minutes of three games before Saturday, and in the 39th minute of another.
That put him in the position knowing suspension looms with another.
He was removed from last Sunday's 1-0 loss at Austin FC in the 68th minute to protect him from getting that next yellow card. He had received one in the 10th minute for a hard, late tackle.
"That one is where I need to be smart and just not make the challenge," Trapp said, "because, especially early in the game, it makes the game tricky as the game goes on."
That tackle last week was his 38th career yellow card, this time he stepped on Austin FC defender Ruben Gabrielsen's foot.
"You can't go into a game like that, certainly in the area of the field where he plays," coach Adrian Heath said. "It's a combative area of the field. That's why you get so many yellow cards. He's just got to play his normal game. I think he has had four of them in the first half, which is no good for you because you're walking a tightrope the way the game is played now."
Trapp said he's trying to be aggressive, but he also needs to know when to be cautious. "It's trying to make plays to spur the group on in terms of intensity and aggression," he said, "but I got to be smarter because there's a suspension coming."
Changes
Heath adjusted his starting 11 slightly, removing young central midfielder Joseph Rosales one week after he made his first MLS start. Heath went back to his preferred 4-2-3-1 to start the game after experimenting with a 4-3-3 the last two games.
Veteran Kemar Lawrence started at left back and Hassani Dotson started for re-injured Romain Metanire again at right back.
Kervin Arriaga and Wil Trapp started in midfield and Heath kept with the four attackers – Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod and Luis Amarilla – from which he says he needs more goals.
Dayne St. Clair started in goal again.
Etc.
- It was clear skies and 40 degrees at kickoff.
* Loons reserve team MNUFC2 plays Colorado's reserve team Sunday at Allianz Field.
Minnesota started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.
