Minnesota United at Vancouver Whitecaps
When: 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday
Where: BC Place
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Betting line: Vancouver minus-105; draw plus-280; MNUFC plus-235
Form: MNUFC (13-12-6, 46 points) was held without a goal for the first time in 12 matches during a scoreless draw with Salt Lake on Wednesday. Vancouver (13-10-8, 47 points) was beaten 3-0 by Seattle on Wednesday and is winless in four straight games.
Check-in: MNUFC was riding on a coach bus in Utah when it clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs on Wednesday. “There is definitely a sense of satisfaction, but also a sense of we want to go again,” Ramsay said. “I think the next two games are really crucial in that.”
History: Vancouver beat Minnesota 3-1 in St. Paul on July 3, but the Loons had a 2.9-1.4 expected goals advantage and MNUFC’s roster was a shell of what it is now.
Look-ahead: The eighth-seeded Loons can jump over the seventh-seeded ‘Caps with a victory in British Columbia on Saturday. Vancouver, however, has played one fewer game and will go even during the international window next weekend against second-place LAFC. MNUFC won’t play again until the season finale on Decision Day against St. Louis on Oct. 19.
Absences: Teemu Pukki (adductor) and Zarek Valentin (lower leg) are out. Michael Boxall (yellow-card accumulation) is suspended. DJ Taylor (hamstring) is questionable.
Update: MNUFC had a conversation with MLS about removing Boxall’s yellow card Wednesday. “But I don’t think there was any sort of mechanism for that to be rescinded,” Ramsay said. “I’m sure the details will be revealed at some point as to the fallout of how that was dealt with and who suffered what, but not a nice instance in any way.”
The MLS Disciplinary Committee will be looked to for what kind of punishment will be coming to Brayan Vera, who spit at Boxall late in Wednesday’s match. He already received a red card.
Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah, FW Tani Oluwaseyi; MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp, MF Robin Lod; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Micky Tapias, CB Jefferson Diaz, CB Carlos Harvey, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair
Scouting report: The Whitecaps will be without one — and maybe two — of their key goal-scorers. Fafa Picault, who has 14 goal contributions, will be suspended after a red card against Sounders. Ryan Gauld, who has 21 goal contributions, was questionable with a knee injury against Seattle and didn’t play. With 17 goal contributions, Brian White did played forward midweek.
Insight: When looking at Vancouver, Ramsay focused on the Whitecaps’ defense. “They defend in a really unique way, and they did when they came to our place,” he said. “They are almost a pure back three with no cover from the wingbacks, which is really hard to execute with players that are struggling physically. I think their manager made reference to that.”
Prediction: Both teams will be playing their third match in eight days, so fatigue figures to be a factor. Vancouver has had the pleasure of staying home, while Minnesota will play in its third stadium in a third time zone. The Loons’ recent form and squad depth will come in handy in a 2-1 win.
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