Which rather bizarrely means it then goes to a pen shootout. So looks like each individual game in the 3 match series must have a winner, ie no draws.
Boxall is the 3rd pen taker for Minny and unfortunately he fails to convert. Luckily Minny still win the shootout 5-4.
Series moves to Minnesota for Game 2. So if they can win at home, they will take the QF series. Conference semis, final & MLS Cup final are all one off games.
RSL keeper dives to his left to save Boxy's pen. Next Minny pen taker goes right, RAL keeper guesses correct but shot squirms under his body. Sometimes you get lucky other times not.
Clean sheet and not many real chances for RSL in the 90 mins, Boxy and his team mates will be happy as they get to host Game 2.
Now confirmed that Minny will travel to LA Galaxy for the Western Conference semi finals. One off knockout game sometime weekend Nov 23rd-24th.
AWs play Samoa Nov 18th. AV may scoff but can see Boxy missing that game.
LA Galaxy (2nd on GD from LAFC in Western Conference) will be tough for Minnesota, thrashing Calvin Harris's Colorado Rapids in their 2 game QF series on aggregate 9-1.
Now confirmed that Minny will travel to LA Galaxy for the Western Conference semi finals. One off knockout game sometime weekend Nov 23rd-24th.
AWs play Samoa Nov 18th. AV may scoff but can see Boxy missing that game.
LA Galaxy (2nd on GD from LAFC in Western Conference) will be tough for Minnesota, thrashing Calvin Harris's Colorado Rapids in their 2 game QF series on aggregate 9-1.
Something tells me the All Whites' Samoan centre back will be particularly keen to play Samoa
And will help him that Minny play their Conference semi in Los Angeles, 24th Nov (25th Nov NZT), plus just the one flight Auckland-LA, rather than a 2nd flight onto Minnesota.
That's if Minny decamp to California early in the leadup to their big semi.
But he'll also be dead keen to play in a MLS Cup Final before he retires. Minny are 2 games away from being in the big dance. He's a very loyal MU club man. I guess he will make the right decision for him.
Boxy starting in the middle of 3 CBs. Unfortunately Galaxy score in the 2nd minute.
Seattle upset LAFC 2-1 in the other Western Conference semi yesterday, after being 1-0 down also in California. So hopefully Minny can take some inspiration from that.
Sadly Minny get thrashed 6-2. Galaxy too good. One of Boxall's CB partners got sent off at 82 mins (2nd yellow), but by then the Galaxy were already up 4-2.
So Boxy's MLS season is over. Pack up some things, and then down to Auckland for a Kiwi summer and the now traditional tough Coach Sunz (also the AWs fitness trainer) presason boot camp training.
Maybe little brother Nikko will sell him an Auckland commercial property. Gotta park those $USD somewhere for post football life.
And perhaps some chats to Corica/McFlynn at Auckland FC, about 2026 and beyond. Signed on for 2025 at Minnesota, with an option to extend from memory. But he'll want the A League as a back up plan, leading into the 2026 WC if Minny do make 2025 his last MLS season.
Probabbly better chance of winning some silverware with Auckland as well, if that matters much to him. Get the feeling that a smaller MLS club like Minnesota, will always find it tougher to get past the bigger budget teams in the West like the two LA sides, Seattle etc.
In the Eastern Conference final, Orlando City will host New York RB. Messi's Inter Miami won the Eastern Conference comfortably by 8 points, but they got bundled out in the quarterfinals losing their QF series 2-1 to Atlanta.
Michael Boxall: “We were well beaten. It’s frustrating because all the things we prepared for and spoke about, where the dangers were, that’s where we didn’t manage those moments well enough. To concede as early as we did, you start on the back foot. Things we emphasised throughout the season, we didn’t do well enough on. The things we were watching all week for, that we planned for, we didn't execute then as well as we should have.”
Up Next: Boxy signed a contract extension for the 2025 season (with an option for 2026) back in September, so don’t worry he’ll be back in Minnesota next year
Each current MLS club had the opportunity to protect 12 players from their 2024 roster during the expansion draft this Wednesday, Dec 11. and MNUFC has chosen the following: . 📰 » https://t.co/8lqFscbguTpic.twitter.com/CHfoVGhJ88
Michael Boxall is one of 12 Minnesota players who have been protected from the MLS Expansion Draft.
As posted in Bill Tuiloma's thread; Each MLS club had to put up this list, but in turn, they could also protect 12 players from being poached in the draft as well.
The Expansion Draft is of course for the new boys San Diego FC, who will get to pick up five 'non-protected' players (from a pool of about 350 available) as they look to build a squad for the 2025 season.
So yes, his future is now definitely secure in Minnesota (well for the next year at least).
New MLS season starts tomorrow. First up Minny travel to Western Conference heavyweights LAFC. LAFC's owner from memory is actually also now a part owner of Auckland.
San Diego are the new franchise this season. The franchise entry fee $US500M!!
San Diego's ownership group, led by British Egyptian entrepreneur Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation (the first Native American ownership group in global soccer), agreed to pay an MLS-record $500 million expansion fee when it was awarded a team in 2023
Niche Cache. Noting Minny's goal yes came from a Boxall long throw. Herre's hoping he stays fit for next 12 mths to get to a deserved first World Cup.
It came about from a Michael Boxall long throw into the box which striker Tani Oluwaseyi flicked on for Yeboah to sneak around the back and convert. Long Throw Boxy is still out here serving. Interesting to also see him in the middle of a back three, allowing him to drive forward into midfield a few times. He was awesome in this game. So much so that he’s launched into the MLS Team of the Matchday, hopefully the first recognition of many for the kiwi lads in the competition.
At 36, Michael Boxall has been waiting for the day these younger players start running right past him. He's still waiting. Premiering tomorrow, it's the latest episode of The Path. pic.twitter.com/Pk2AohQ1YT
Niche Cache. Consecutive MLS TOTW selections for Boxy. That is a big achievement. Minny only had 28% possession in their 1-0 win in San Jose, and Boxall with the assist
Niche Cache. Consecutive MLS TOTW selections for Boxy. That is a big achievement. Minny only had 28% possession in their 1-0 win in San Jose, and Boxall with the assist
The question on Boxall is how are so prominent in the MLS without some interest from Europe? Maybe he’s had it over the years, but decided to stay where he was for his kids or some such. They’re often on the field at the end of games.
He was on $USD728K last season. Not a bad hourly rate when you only play about 30 games a season, as opposed to say 46 in The Championship. Important when you will be trying to nurse a 36 year old body to a treasured WC appearance.
Minny looks like a nice place to live in the warmer months. Lots of lakes. Good for the family yes. Less so when snowbound. And yeah he's favourite of the fans and club.
And maybe like so many other retired AWs he's looking at a post football career Stateside. Went to a US College of course.
Wonder if there was any European interest when he was with SuperSport or the Nix. That was probably the time for him to go North.
Edit - Minny up 3-0 after 65 mins. This will likely be their 3rd win in 4 games, and the loss was a narrow 1-0 one at LAFC. Early days but Minnesota look like being a MLS contender this season.
