Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Michael Boxall (Minnesota United | USA)

1112 replies · 277,005 views
24 Aug 00:39 · edited 24 Aug 02:18 · History
Boxy starts
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14 Sep 01:48
Boxy starts
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14 Sep 05:47
Minny with a huge 3-1 upset win. Close the gap on SD to 2 pts in the battle to win Western Conference 

Boxy a yellow. Nec Triantis who I think has now declared for Greece off the bench with the 3rd goal for Minny 
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18 Sep 00:04 · edited 18 Sep 02:56 · History
Boxall & Triantis starting.

Nashville beat Philly 3-1 in the other semi. Boyd not in the match day squad.

Edit - 30 mins in & 0-0 in Minneapolis.
Edit 2 - Austin up 1-0 at HT.
Edit 3 - 1-1 at the end of NT. At 103 mins and still 1-1. 37 yr old Boxy still out there. Triantis long since departed at 61 mins in.
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18 Sep 03:30
Austin score a 2nd goal at 120 mins to get up 2-1. 
So it's a Nashvillve verus Austin US Open Cup final.

Leaves Minny to concentrate on the MLS, where they are having their best season since ever. Full game Boxall
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21 Sep 00:06 · edited 21 Sep 02:43 · History
Old man Boxy gets a rest on the bench. Remembering he played 120 mins mid week in US Open Cup semi final.
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03 Oct 17:06 · edited 03 Oct 17:06 · History
Get the nod for Defender of the Year from league analyst/columnist:

Defender of the Year
I’m leaning towards Michael Boxall, not only because Minnesota’s been very good defensively – by both the advanced and boxscore numbers, they have one of the best defenses in the league – but because Boxall’s long throws have been intrinsic to the Loons’ overall identity. Stylistically, it’s 180 degrees from what the Crew were last year. But in terms of impact within the system, you could argue Boxall is actually more valuable than what Steven Moreira provided Columbus, and I gladly voted for Moreira last season.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/decision-day-countdown-mvp-supporters-shield-golden-boot-storylines-messi-2025-mls

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04 Oct 23:54 · edited 04 Oct 23:54 · History
Boxy starts alongside Triantis.
Minny (55 pts) need to win if they are to catch San Diego (1st in the West, 57 pts) and Vancouver (2nd, also 57 pts).

Penultimate MLS round.
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05 Oct 02:44 · edited 05 Oct 05:34 · History
Full game Boxy in a 3-0 win. Triantis an assist.

Unfortunately San Diego score 3 goals post 85 mins to win 4-2 at Houston.
Whilst Vancouver (who have 2 games in hand) host lowly San Jose tomorrow. So it looks like Minnesota will finish 3rd at best in the West.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-portland-timbers-october-4-2025#highlights-minnesota-united-vs-sporting-kansas-city-october-4-2025
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16 Oct 00:01
Minnesota doing their best to promote their veteran CB for MLS defender of the year.

Again I do wonder whether Baze is keeping Boxall's potential long throw threat up his sleeve until the WC. As soon as the draw is made in December the lengthy scouting of pool opponents and hours of video analysis will begin.

2 of the AW's last 3 goals have come from setpieces. Stamenic against Ukraine & Surman yesterday. Boxy the assist both times. Only an offside prevents Stamenic from scoring another from Payne's free kick in Oslo.

https://www.mnufc.com/news/an-irrefutable-case-for-boxy-and-dsc-s-year-end-honors

In 2025, 37-year-old Michael Boxall has already played 2,600 regular season minutes, good enough for third on the team and making him one of just three outfield players over 37 to feature so prominently for an MLS club this year (Sergio Busquets and Maxi Moralez are the other two: not bad company!). The only time he’s missed has been due in large part to international duty, and while his exploits with the Kiwis don’t necessarily matter in league play, I’ll just point out that he scored the goal that sent his nation to the World Cup. Do with that what you will.

I would be remiss if I didn’t spend some time talking about what got Boxall the most recognition this season: enter long throws. While this tactic is nothing new in the game, it’s a feature that’s oft-overlooked in a team’s game plan. But anyone that’s watched the Loons this year knows how aggressive they’ve been on set pieces, squeezing every scrap of attacking opportunity out of the moments that call for elevated execution and attention to detail. The captain was a huge part of that.

Boxall’s ability to heave the ball into the 18 from just about any part of the sideline in the attacking third enabled his side to pin opponents in, supplementing what was an attack that otherwise relied heavily on counters. His wealth of experience mixed with a youthful energy that should make all (nearly) middle-aged men jealous makes him one of the league’s most notable players, full stop, and certainly puts him among the most elite defenders in Major League Soccer.

If that isn’t enough to convince you, chew on these cold, hard facts. He represented the Loons at the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in Austin, added five official assists on top of all of the dangerous chances he created with his throw-ins, and led the league’s joint third-best defense (37 goals conceded through 33 games). Get you a center back who can do both.
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16 Oct 00:22 · edited 16 Oct 00:23 · History
And as it turns out Boxy may not even be required by Minny in LA on Decision Day.
For them the Galaxy match a bit of a nothing fixture.
I should have looked at this earlier.

The top 7 teams in each Conference enter the MLS playoffs, while spots 8th & 9th play a oneoff wildcard game to determine the 8th quarterfinalist.

Minny (4th in the West, 58 pts, GD +18) can only finish as high as 2nd, and that requires that they win in LA, plus both San Diego (2nd, 60 pts, GD +19) or LAFC (3rd, 59 pts) not winning.

Seattle (5th, 52 pts) can't catch Minny, and the top 4 teams all get the advantage of hosting 2 of the 3 Round One playoff games (Conference quarters), if a 3rd QF game is required. Vancouver (1st, 63 pts, GD +29) are virtually guaranteed finishing top in the West, barring a massive win by San Diego.

The remaining three MLS Playoff rounds — the conference semifinals, the conference final, and MLS Cup final — are single-elimination matches.

Playoffs pause between 10th-21st November, for the Nov FIFA window.

https://www.mnufc.com/news/preview-loons-look-to-climb-conference-standings-on-decision-day

Think about the mindset of a Loons’ player heading into this one: You’re already guaranteed to host two games in round one of the playoffs. You can’t finish first in the conference anymore, you can’t finish any lower than you already are, and though a win could change your path to the MLS Cup Final, there really isn’t a whole lot of anything riding on this weekend’s match. Plus, the Galaxy have lost more games than you’ve won, they’re dead last in the conference, and their best player is still out. If you ask me, that’s not the easiest game in the world to get yourself excited for. 

For Coach Ramsay and the squad, the best way to approach Decision Day is as though it’s the beginning of the playoffs. At this time of year, the only thing that really matters in this league is form; if you were good enough to make the postseason and you’re playing your best soccer in October, you’ve got a real shot at winning the title. If the Loons come into this match thinking about all the reasons I listed before, they’ll be at risk of falling flat, denting their momentum, and hitting an unfortunate domino that ends in their early exit from the playoffs. If they lock in—as they’ve seemingly done all season—they can hand the defending champs one last resounding L in 2025 on their way to what could be a deep run.
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16 Oct 01:04 · edited 16 Oct 01:05 · History
"just three outfield players over 37 to feature so prominently for an MLS club this year (Sergio Busquets and Maxi Moralez are the other two: not bad company!)"

Messi with 26 goals in 27 games at 38yo doesnt qualify apparently? Seems a very arbitrary cutoff.

Valley FC til I die?

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16 Oct 01:42 · edited 16 Oct 01:45 · History
I guess it's a combination age & mins played arbitary measurement, rather games or goals. 
Messi 2,331 mins in the MLS this season

Some other Inter Miami old timers this MLS season
Luis Suarez (also 38) 2,204 mins and 10 goals
Jordi Alba (36) 2,476 mins
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16 Oct 02:03 · edited 16 Oct 02:04 · History
Yeah its just MNU using lies/damned lies/statistics to show the narrative they're pushing.

Just thought it was worth mentioning for balance.

Valley FC til I die?

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19 Oct 01:51
No surprise that Boxy gets a rest on the bench as Minny trail 1-0 at the Galaxy, late first half.
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19 Oct 03:47
Boxy on at 41 mins for an injured team mate (1-0) as Minny lose 2-1.

Minnesota finish 4th and will play Seattle (5th) in 3 match QF playoffs, Western Conference.

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21 Oct 19:14 · edited 21 Oct 19:20 · History
New York Times reporter on MLS Defender of the season and Boxie gets a strong mention.

"Minnesota’s Michael Boxall was another player within serious consideration. The 37-year-old has been incredible as the anchor to Minny’s defensive unit and has the added bonus of being an attacking weapon with his long throw-ins."

What an athlete.
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28 Oct 00:21 · edited 28 Oct 01:13 · History
Boxy starts. 

I think he won a Cup final with SuperSport in South Africa in an upset over one of the bigger PSL clubs, Brockie scoring a goal from memory.

But otherwise this MLS playoff series could be 37 yr old Boxall's best chance to ever win a major club trophy. Minny (4th in the West) certainly one of the better sides in the West, and who knows how the playoff draw will open up post these quarter finals. 

But yes Seattle will be tough (5th in the West), historically one of the best MLS clubs.
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28 Oct 01:53
HT and is 0-0.
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28 Oct 02:59
Finishes 0-0. Boxall & Triantis both got yellows.

Now a pen shootout, as each playoff game must have a winner.
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28 Oct 03:21
2016 Nedbank Cup Final against Orlando Pirates
So yes, he has already won a major title
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28 Oct 03:35 · edited 28 Oct 03:44 · History
No offence to SA Football, but a MLS Cup title will truly top that.

Good news. Minny win the pen shootout 3-2. Boxy not required from the spot (he has been before at Minnesota in shoot outs).

Triantis was, and buried his spot kick

So MU take a 1-0 lead to Game Two in Seattle.

Boxall's good mate Canadian GK Dwayne St Clair with easiest pen save you'll see.
And then two other Seattle pen takes bang back off the woodwork.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/pk-shootout-minnesota-united-fc-vs-seattle-sounders-fc-round-one
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28 Oct 04:53
So would a League 1 Playoff Cup top the MLS Cup?
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