Why MNUFC Might Win Some Post-Season Awards This Year

Tim C McLaughlin Ike Opara celebrates a goal during an MLS match between Minnesota United FC and FC Cincinnati at Allianz Field on June 29.Last year I wrote over 2,500 words about Minnesota United’s chances to win post-season awards. To be blunt, it was secretly just a framing device to discuss another difficult season for the team and contextualize how positively to look at individual contributions. Such is life when you break your own record for defensive futility, look upon the playoffs with envy, and wonder what to be optimistic about.

So when I perused the list of candidates for Major League Soccer’s end of season awards, Minnesota’s fighting chances in a lot of them startled me. What…