Footage from the Minnesota United-Toronto FC match on Saturday will not be featured in league-wide highlight packages this weekend, but it might be catalogued as part of opponents’ film study on how to neutralize the Loons going forward. The Loons and Reds played to a scoreless draw at BMO Field i n Toronto, and Minnesota’s usually potent counter-attacking offense was, in part, neutered as MNUFC possessed 49% of the ball — more than 20% higher than their league-low average going into Saturday. “We are going to have to do both,” head coach Eric Ramsay said about playing with and without the ball. “I don’t think the amount of the ball we had was a reflection of whether we played well or didn’t. It was the conditions they set to an extent.” The emerging gameplan might become: let Minnesota possess the ball and not get beat on a counter. “Over the year, as we move forward, (we) are going to now encounter teams that are very, very conscious of the way in which we had success … over the first eight games,” Ramsay said. “And it’s going to be a process, an iteration for us, in that sense.” Meanwhile, strong defense contributed to the road draw and MNUFC (4-1-3, 15 points) extended its unbeaten streak to seven games. Toronto (0-4-4, 4 points) is now winless in eight games to start the season. Here are three takeaways: Canadian homecomings Toronto-area natives, Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and forward Tani Oluwaseyi, played at home in MLS for the first time Saturday. “It’s definitely a bit of a mess when you are the away team, and me and Tani are trying to get as many tickets as possible,” St. Clair said postgame. “But I think we were able to manage, having my parents here, a lot of family friends and some of my friends here, as well. We had a good cohort between me and Tani.” Saturday’s game was more memorable for St. Clair, who make all five saves required. He now has four clean sheets in seven games played this season. Oluwaseyi, who had scored two goals apiece in the last two games, didn’t have an attempt on target Saturday. Offense limited The Loons were held scoreless for the first time since the season-opening 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on Feb. 22. “We have two forwards (Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah) very comfortable in attacking big spaces,” Ramsay said. “As the space reduces in front of goal, we are more reliant on central combinations and the way the (central midfielders link with the two forwards).” The Loons’ only shot on target came from an unlikely source: center back Nicholas Romero around the hour mark. No-star sanctuary Toronto’s Italian stars Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne were held in check. Bernardeschi had three shots on target, Insigne none. “(Bernardeschi) likes to collect the ball in wide areas and start to run at guys,” St. Clair said. “I think we did a good job of getting pressure out there early, so that he can’t drift into the middle of the pitch where he is a lot more dangerous in terms of getting the shots off.” MNUFC kept down TFC, which now has managed only three goals across its last six matches. “If someone would have said to me prior to the game that we would have been so tight defensively that the opposition would have had 0.3 or 0.4 (expected goals) and Bernardeschi and Insigne would have had very little opportunity to combine, to link, to make their mark on the game, I would have been really pleased,” Ramsay said. Three tidbits The Loons’ last goalless draw came 12 total games ago against Real Salt Lake in October. … DJ Taylor made his first MLS appearance early in the second half Saturday, replacing right wing back Bongi Hlongwane, who was being targeted by Toronto after picking up a first-half yellow card. … U.S. Bank Stadium will host a doubleheader of CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on June 29. The four teams will be determined after the tournament’s group stages between national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Related Articles Minnesota United at Toronto FC: Keys to match, projected XI, a prediction Patience in Joaquin Pereyra is paying off for Minnesota United Loons start fast, hold on late for a 2-1 win over New York City Minnesota United at New York City: Keys to match, projected starting lineup and a prediction Loons strikers Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi are a ‘surprise for MLS’ ...read more read less