Michael Boxall (Minnesota United | USA)

Boxall snr starting verus Liga MX outfit Puebla, in the Leagues Cup.

2nd Kiwi sent off in Nth America within a few days. Gets a straight red card at 30 mins (1-0). Soft. Little jab into the kidneys.
Didn't stop Minny who go onto win 4-0.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-los-angeles-football-club-july-15-2023#red-card-michael-boxall-minnesota-united-fc-30th-minute

Minny host fellow MLS club Chicago Fire in Leagues Cup.
Presumably Boxall snr is suspended.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/28/nc-america/leagues-cup/nsc-minnesota-stars/chicago-fire/4051193/

No Boxy as Minny lose 2-3 (were 2-0 up). 
Xherdan Shaqiri scored Chicago's first goal in their comeback win.

Leagues Cup round of 32. Minny travel to the Columbus Crew.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/05/nc-america/leagues-cup/columbus-crew/nsc-minnesota-stars/4194340/

Boxy starts.

Plays full game, which finishes 3-3.

Then steps up in the shootout as 3rd pen taker for Minnesota, converts his kick, the following 2 Minny players fail to convert, but still MU go on to win the shootout 4-3. Into the Leagues Cup Round of 16, to play Liga MX's Toluca.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-columbus-crew-vs-minnesota-united-fc-august-4-2023#highlights-columbus-crew-vs-minnesota-united-fc-august-4-2023

Leagues Cup Round of 16, Minnesota hosting Liga MX's Toluca. Boxy starting with Minny leading 2-1 after 65 mins.

Edit - some late drama, it's gone to pens. Finished 2-2 in NT (no ET). Minny with a guy sent off at 73 mins. Toluca convert the resultant pen, taken by their Brazilian keeper! The Brazilian GK also conveerted his pen in the shootout. It stays 2-2 until FT

In pen shootout Boxy is Minny's 2nd pen taker and he converts. That's the 3rd pen he converted in 3 shootouts for Minny this year (US Open Cup & 2 Leagues Cup shootouts). If AWs are ever in a shootout - which realistically is unlikely any time soon - put M Boxall on the list of takers! Cool as ice.

Edit 2 - Minny win the shootout 4-2. They will play Nashville in the quarters. So far 5 of the 6, Round of 16 games have gone to pens.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/09/nc-america/leagues-cup/deportivo-toluca-futbol-club/nsc-minnesota-stars/4194352/

dad vibes absolutely off the charts#MINvTOL | @LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/DNYFcwWqkZ

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 8, 2023

Minny travel to Nashville for their Leagues Cup QF.
Another win on pens for Minny?

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/12/nc-america/leagues-cup/nashville-mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/4194358/

6 MLS & 2 Liga MX teams make up the QF sides.

Boxy starting in Nashville.

No pens this time. Minny get thumped 5-0.
Turning point, Minnesota down to 10 men at 34 mins (0-0). Then concede 5 goals between 39th-59th mins.

Full game Boxall snr.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-nashville-sc-vs-minnesota-united-fc-august-11-2023#highlights-nashville-sc-vs-minnesota-united-fc-august-11-2023

Minny (10th in the West) travel to New York City (13th in the East)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/21/united-states/mls/new-york-city/nsc-minnesota-stars/4004845/

Full game in a 2-0 road win in the Big Apple. 2nd goal in the 95th min.

Minny up to 9th in the West, and into the playoff spots. Though still a few games to finalise later today.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-new-york-city-fc-vs-minnesota-united-fc-august-20-2023

Minny (10th in the West) host Seattle (4th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/27/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/seattle-sounders-fc/4004869/

Full game in a 1-1 draw. Minny 10th just out of the playoffs (top 9 teams) on GD.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-seattle-sounders-fc-august-27-2023

Full game in a 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids (last in the West).
Minny up to 7th.

Two ex Nixers on the paddock. Calvin Harris 63 mins starting for the Rapids. Harris has had 4 MLS starts for the Rapids, yet to score.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/31/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/colorado-rapids/4004879/

https://us.soccerway.com/players/calvin-harris/576966/

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/#highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-colorado-rapids-august-30-2023

Minny (7th in the West) travel to San Jose (8th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/03/united-states/mls/san-jose-earthquakes/nsc-minnesota-stars/4004893/

Boxy starting.
Edit - full game & a yellow in a 1-1 draw. Minny 7th.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/#highlights-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-minnesota-united-fc-september-2-2023

Minny (7th in the West) host New England Revolution (2nd in the East)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/10/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/new-england-revolution/4004766/

Full game in a 1-1 draw. Not quite the Chatham Cup final, but Minny's Canadian keeper St Clair goes forward in the 93rd min to provide the assist for Minny's dramatic late equaliser.

Capatin Boxy with an early 14th min open header opportunity from a free kick, he should really have done better with

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-new-england-revolution-september-9-2023#highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-new-england-revolution-september-9-2023

Minny (7th in the West) host Sporting Kansas City (12th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/17/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/kansas-city-wizards/4004908/

Boxall starting. 0-0 at HT.
Edit - finished a 0-1 loss for Minny.

Ex Nixers matchup in the MLS. Minny (8th in the West) travel to Boyd's LA Galaxy (13th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/21/united-states/mls/los-angeles-galaxy/nsc-minnesota-stars/4004926/

With Calvin Harris starting recently for the Rapids. 3 ex Nix players in the MLS.

Boyd with one over Boxall as Galaxy win 4-3. Tyler with assist at 82 mins for the winner, then comes off a few mins later. 

Full game Boxy

Both ‘Kiwis’ with a yellow. Minny down to 10 men at 74 mins (3-3). They were 3-1 up in the first half, so quite the comeback by Galaxy.

Highlights below. Plenty of Boyd in this one. Two pre assists along with the assist. Also drew the 2nd yellow, to see the Minny player sent off.

Galaxy 13th (33 pts) still a chance of a playoff spot in MLS's bloated playoff system (9 teams in each conference), Minny drop to 10th (37 pts). A 4-3 scoreline seems pretty typical of how the Galaxy play (conceded most goals this MLS season, Western Conference).

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-la-galaxy-vs-minnesota-united-fc-september-20-2023#highlights-la-galaxy-vs-minnesota-united-fc-september-20-2023

And they were the two players that got that final counter in the win in Adelaide! Still one of my favorite moments in Phoenix history. 

Boyd seems to be rediscovering the form that had people making outlandish claims for his future potential. 

Minny (10th in the West) host St Louis City (1st).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/24/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/st-louis-city/4004936/

Boxy starting.
Edit - Minny lead 1-0 at 60 mins.

Edit 2 - Minny go on to lose 1-2.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-st-louis-city-sc-september-23-2023#highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-st-louis-city-sc-september-23-2023

Minny (11th in the West) host San Jose Earthquakes (8th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/01/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/san-jose-earthquakes/4004949/

Full game in a 1-1 draw

Minny (11th in the West) travel to LAFC (4th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/05/united-states/mls/los-angeles-fc/nsc-minnesota-stars/4004965/

Boxy suits up. He's started 29 of 32 MLS games for Minny this season. Mr Dependable. 

Big game for him & his team mates away to glamour oufit LAFC 
(Carlos Vela & co). LAFC without a single American in their starting 11.

Minny (11th in the West) 3 pts off playoff spots with 3 games left. They host that other LA team the Galaxy & Boyd this weekend. Two losses, and Minny's MLS season would likely be over before Boxall heads off to join up with the AWs.

Minny (38 pts) get thumped 5-1.

Boxy off at 66 mins (4-1). Unusual for him to be subbed off early, but he was part of a double sub so hopefully not injury related. Maybe with that scoreline a chance to spell him with a now huge game against the Galaxy (35 pts) only a few days away. Must win for both teams to be any chance of making playoffs.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/#highlights-los-angeles-football-club-vs-minnesota-united-fc-october-4-2023

Tyler Boyd had 88 mins today as Galaxy lost 2-1 at Seattle.

Minny (12th) host LA Galaxy (13th). Ex Nixers Boxall & Boyd go head to head.
Must win for Minny re playoffs with 2 games only left.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/08/united-states/mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/los-angeles-galaxy/4004979/

Boxall & Boyd both start.

Goals rain down in Minnesota. They win 5-2.
Teemu Pukki with 4 goals. Boyd with the first goal for Galaxy. Boxy helping out his old Nix team mate with the deflection past GK Sinclair. Last time these 2 teams met the Galaxy won 4-3
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/#highlights-minnesota-united-fc-vs-la-galaxy-october-7-2023

Glamour boys Galaxy always score a few, but the have the worse defence of the 29 MLS teams. 61 goals conceded in 32 games.

Full game Boxall. Minny a chance of the playoffs. Their crucial last game is 22nd Oct, a few days after the Socceroos, so coach Heath may put pressure on Bazeley to limit Boxy's mins in the FIFA window.

Not a great season for Minnys defensive lineup. Boxall hasn't been at his best this season unfortunately. Maybe an underlying injury, partnership issues or tactical change that just hasn't worked. He could be in trouble. Hope I'm wrong. 

Saffa

Not a great season for Minnys defensive lineup. Boxall hasn't been at his best this season unfortunately. Maybe an underlying injury, partnership issues or tactical change that just hasn't worked. He could be in trouble. Hope I'm wrong. 

Well he has a new gaffer now (or will for start of next season).
From Flying Kiwis.

The Loon sacked their long-time manager Adrian Heath after the LAFC game (5-2 loss). The Englishman is the only coach the team has ever had since they wre founded in 2017. Boxy and several others were pretty loyal to Heath although it had felt like perhaps the team was a tad too stuck in their ways this season (particularly with their poor start, which stemmed from a lack of goal-scoring).

Last round MLS regular season. Minny (11th in the West) travel to Kansas City (10th). Playoff 6 pointer.

Must win for Minnesota (11th, but only out the playoff spots by 2 pts) to make top 9 teams in the playoffs.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/22/united-states/mls/kansas-city-wizards/nsc-minnesota-stars/4004986/

Minny bomb out in a 3-1 defeat to SKC.

But you can add Boxy's name to the list of AW's who have scored for their club sides upon returning from national team duties though.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/#goal-m-boxall-vs-skc-82

Banger of a header that! - But it will be cold comfort for the bloke, as his team's season was pretty thoroughly ended this arvo.