USMNT midfielder Diego Luna headlines this week’s round of select narratives to consider in what could potentially be yet another bounce-back week for Pablo Mastroeni’s side.
There is a brief moment in the third segment of the popular animated adventure film Toy Story 3, where a few of the main characters assemble near a television showing a Spanish-language broadcast of a football (soccer) match – played solely, however, for comedic effect.
On that lone evidence, it is unclear, from either of the screenplay adaptations or original writings, whether secondary protagonist Buzz Lightyear is much of a football fan.
Compelled to speculate, one surely would have to think not, thus making it equally uncertain how the popular fictional character would take to this author’s paraphrasing of his famous catchphrase. But then again, if ever there was a possibility of Lightyear’s conversion, surely Moon Man, at least, might hold significant sway… watching Diego Luna play football can sometimes do that – all of which brings us, in a painfully roundabout way, to this week’s edition of Storylines.
RSL’s diminutive creator-in-chief returns from Country to Club to take center stage this weekend as Pablo Mastroeni’s charges travel to St. Paul for an away clash against Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Saturday, in a rematch of last season’s Audi MLS Cup Playoff Round One series.
Last Saturday’s defeat brought with it tension and drama in abundance. The coming weekend, much like its predecessor, promises even more of the same – albeit, the club certainly hopes, in potentially more positive fashion. As always, Storylines brings you some crucial subplots to ponder.
The Prince That Was Promised: Luna’s Glorious Return
USMNT supporters convened on a new fan favorite this past weekend in what proved a disappointing, eye-opening chapter for the federation as a whole. Indeed, if the Pochettino era ever does deliver on the kind of success much promised at its start, the international period of March 17-25, 2025, will perhaps be seen as a pivotal inflection point.
Deflating back-to-back defeats to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League cast a grim shadow over the Argentine manager’s current reign and reignited discourse, in more ways than one, regarding the direction of both the team and sport ahead of next summer’s much anticipated FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The final result against head coach Jesse Marsch’s Les Rouges in California cemented the final, brutal nail in the coffin, but amidst the ashes of its latest failure and ignominy emerged a story of a young man the footballing world now finds itself obliged to stand witness to: Diego Angel Luna, like a phoenix rising, as the lone shining star on a difficult night for an embattled Stars and Stripes.
His assist was a work of awareness and pure inventiveness, making a run into the box to provide an option to receive a pass before then unselfishly teeing up striker Patrick Agyemang for the latter’s goal to draw the USMNT back on level terms after having fallen behind earlier in the contest.
It was the 21-year-old’s second international assist of 2025, coming in a second successive appearance, after his setup for the opening goal earlier in the year in a 3-0 exhibition victory over Costa Rica on Jan. 22, and only a week after he opened his domestic account with a bullet header which proved to be the winning goal in RSL’s 2-1 away win against the Houston Dynamo in the MLS on March 15.
Two assists and three national team appearances to begin the new season is perhaps more than even Luna himself would have envisaged at the start of the year. It all serves, though, to add further light and credence to the midfielder’s burgeoning reputation as one of the country’s premier homegrown talents, now thrust onto the grander international stage to the marvel of the wider sport.
"From my blood come the Prince That was Promised and his will be the Song of Ice and Fire" (A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin). There were no fires, nor was there any ice to be found on the fields of SoFi Stadium at any point on Sunday night. In its place lay an offering of blood, sweat, and talent, and an effervescent proclamation of his arrival from one of the nation’s emerging favorite sons.
“Big Balls!” Pochettino had enthused about his prolific creator at the end of January’s victory over Costa Rica.
Mastroeni will certainly be hoping for more of that same when his team takes the field in St. Paul on Saturday.
A Familiar Foe and a Persistent Problem
There was a moment in the first half of last weekend’s defeat to FC Dallas that seemed to moderately sum up RSL’s issues regarding breaking down opponents. In the 15th minute, wingback Sam Junqua retained possession slightly higher upfield on the left-hand side, with different options ahead of him. As he contemplated his next move, striker Forster Ajago made a darting run through the channel, for what seemed like the umpeenth time, motioning with his hands for Junqua to release him in behind before he was tracked. The defender, though, baited before then opting for the safer option on his inside. Ajago, in response, threw his hands up in the air in frustration. Eight minutes later, striker Ari Piol was handed his marching orders, which set the stage for an eventual defeat. The entire sequence conveniently added to the tactical backdrop of Saturday’s impending contest.
When the weekend fixture kicks off, RSL will be playing its fifth fixture against Minnesota United in less than a full year. Both sides met a total of six times throughout 2024, with each encounter ending in a draw, while head coach Eric Ramsay’s Loons were able to knock out RSL from the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at the start of November after securing the opening two legs of a best-of-three format via tiebreaker, on kicks from the penalty mark.
Saturday’s game, thus, places itself in a unique position as a much-awaited rematch for a fixture that has developed into a bit of a rivalry over the past few encounters. Prevailing, however, will require that Mastroeni’s men do something they’ve struggled at for the better part of the last 12 months: break down a low block.
It tends to be a something of a slugfest whenever RSL and Minnesota lock horns, with Ramsay typically setting up his Loons side in a deep defending 5-4-1 spaceless low block, and RSL – though regularly enjoying greater possession – consistently struggling to break down their rivals’ defensive shape.
For most of 2024, RSL impressed mightily during transitional phases of play, but the difficulty in penetrating more resolute, dogged deep-block opponents has continuously represented a point for improvement for the team, even now five games into a new campaign. Heading into this weekend’s tie, finding ways to be braver and more ruthless and consequential in possession will be crucial to any chances of a positive result.
Minnesota, for their part, are currently enjoying a decent run of form, with two wins, two draws, and a single loss from their opening five MLS games. The Loons’ seven goals scored also puts them in the bracket of the league’s current top scorers, but six goals conceded in the same timeframe will surely constitute a worry for Ramsay as his charges come up against an RSL side, boasting a re-invigorated Luna, who are looking to kick on from a dismal opening few weeks that have brought three defeats and nine goals conceded in five league games.
It is certainly one worth keeping your tabs on.
The Battle of the Number 9s: Ajago v Yeboah, Oluwaseyi
Aiding the Loons’ cause will be strikers Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi, both of whom, with four and two goals in five and four games, respectively, currently represent two of the best frontmen in the league.
The weekend also further brings about the opportunity for a personal rematch of sorts, with Canada International Oluwaseyi set to go up again against Luna, fresh from facing each other in last Sunday’s Nations League third-place fixture, where the Loons striker netted the opening goal for his side in their eventual 2-1 victory.
RSL, however, head into the weekend shorn of the services of one of its own front men, with the Australian Piol forced to serve a suspension following his sending off against Dallas, making Ajago almost guaranteed to lead the line in St. Paul.
The Ghanaian forward netted twice in his opening four appearances for the club but has since endured a goalless run in his last three games and will doubtlessly be aiming for a break in his duck at Allianz Field on Saturday.
Luna v Oluwaseyi, Ajago v Yeboah, and more action-packed, mouthwatering narratives and matchups to ponder. A crucial week for the Claret-and-Cobalt nears its definitive point. For the sake of the faithful, at the very least, it need be a positive one.
