Minnesota United FC at Sporting Kansas City Preview

September 16, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Tuesday night, Minnesota United broke its three-game losing and scoreless skid as it played to a 1-1 draw against the Western Conference leaders, LAFC. The result was crucial for Minnesota’s playoffs push, but Saturday’s showcase against Sporting Kansas City will prove to be another test. The Loons have struggled in Kansas City, but have won when in big moments and look to ride momentum of the LAFC match along with the continued push to stay above the playoffs line to close out the regular season. With points being crucial in every match these next few weeks, can Minnesota claim its first regular-season win at Children’s Mercy Park, or will SKC play spoiler on Saturday night?

ADRIAN HEATH ON SPORTING KANSAS CITY

“Everybody knows I’ve got a tremendous admiration for Peter Vermes. What he’s done in a market similar size to ours has been extraordinary. It’s just never been easy for us in Kansas [Sporting Kansas City]. We managed to go there a couple of years ago in the playoffs and win 3-nil. Apart from that, we haven’t played well there, so it’s going to be an important game for us. They look as though, if you look at their results of the last, sort of, month, they’ve picked up a lot of points. It’s going to be tough but a game we can win if we play well.”

BRENT KALLMAN ON HIS GOAL AGAINST LAFC

“It felt really good. Every time there’s an attacking set piece, I have the belief that it’s going to come my way, so I try to stay ready. It came in my area, I was able to make a play. I suppose it was an important goal for the result but also maybe to get us rolling now. We hadn’t scored in a while so maybe that’ll kinda kickstart something.”

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

PLAYOFFS?!: A point on Tuesday against LAFC to break Minnesota’s losing skid came in quite handy on Wednesday, as many results below them took friendly turns. The Loons sit fifth in the Western Conference on 45 points, above Portland on total wins. Nashville (fourth, 46 points) and Dallas (third, 49 points) are both still within reach with positive results, but let’s look behind Minnesota. With losses on Wednesday, both Real Salt Lake (seventh, 43 points) and LA Galaxy (eighth, 40 points and a game in hand) failed to gain ground on Minnesota. With a win on Saturday, Minnesota can put an end to Kansas City’s faint playoff hopes, and ensure they finish above Colorado and Vancouver (both of whom won on Wednesday) without help. They cannot clinch a playoff spot due to both Seattle (ninth, 39 points) and LA Galaxy having a game in hand, but a Minnesota win combined with losses by the Galaxy against Colorado and Sounders against Vancouver would put the Loons on the brink. In that situation, both Seattle and LA would need to win out, beginning with their games over the international break, to catch Minnesota. If both drop points, Minnesota is in. As always, the most important thing is three points to bring home to Minnesota on Saturday.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

E. Reynoso (Suspended)

B. Dibassy – Thigh (out for the season)

H. Dotson – Knee (out for the season)

J. Hayes – Lower Leg (out for the season)

C. Montgomery – Thigh

QUESTIONABLE:

B. Hlongwane – Knee

R. Lod – Ankle

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