By Andy Greder

Pioneer Press

Minnesota United’s 6-1 win over New Mexico in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal wasn’t an hour old Wednesday when head coach Adrian Heath shifted his focus to a big MLS game with FC Dallas on Saturday.

“If we keep giving the ball away like that to Dallas, it will be a different story,” Heath said of the Loons’ sometimes sloppy play in the blowout against the lower-level USL opponent.

This was a nod to the heightened stakes for the Minnesota-Dallas match at 7 p.m. Saturday at Allianz Field.

The Loons (9-7-3) have 30 points and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference — the last seed to host a home MLS Cup playoff game come October. Dallas (8-7-5) has 29 points, sits in fifth and has played one more game than Minnesota this season.

“It’s going to have to be a really solid performance,” Heath added after Thursday’s training session. “I don’t think this is going to be a gimme by any stretch of the imagination.”

Dallas has blended veterans such as defender Matt Hedges and younger players that have come up through its youth academy system, such as like midfielder Paxton Pomykal, and Colombian Designated Player Santiago Mosquera.

“They have a really good mix,” Heath said.

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