Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake
When: 7:41 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 39 degrees, rain, 15 mph south wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-130; draw plus-280; RSL plus-340
Form: Loons (2-1-2, 8 points) have coughed up late leads for draws the past two matches. RSL (2-3-0, 6 points) is coming off a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday; they have alternated wins and losses all season.
Recent matchups: MNUFC swept RSL 2-0 in their first-round MLS Cup Playoffs series last fall; the Loons needed penalty kick shootouts to break ties in both matches. MNUFC is 5-3-11 against Salt Lake in regular-season matches.
Quote: Head coach Eric Ramsay said the preseason exhibition match between the teams in February was less than friendly. “This is the game that has the real edge to it,” Ramsay said Friday. “… You could tell there was a spillover from last year, for sure. I think our players thrive in those situations.”
Update: Most of the Loons five international players are coming off strong windows. Center back Michael Boxall scored the winning goal to qualify New Zealand for the 2026 World Cup. Center back Carlos Harvey helped Panama beat the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and forward Tani Oluwaseyi contributed to Canada beating Team USA, with Oluwaseyi scoring a goal.
Context: Ramsay is no longer going to immediately thrust players into the starting XI straight from international duty if he doesn’t have to. He pointed Friday to a flat 2-0 loss at Philadelphia last March as a lesson learned.
Absences: Hassani Dotson (knee) is expected to be out months after suffering a knee injury in the 2-2 draw with Galaxy last weekend. Kipp Keller (hamstring) is projected to be out months. Boxall (international duty) returned to training Friday and doubtful to start Saturday.
Scouting report: Cristian “Chicho” Arango has left for San Jose, leaving a goal-scoring void with RSL. They have scored four goals in five matches; no one has more than one. Diego Luna, a U.S. national team member, is the most threatening attacker.
Stats: United has the highest expected goal differential in the Western Conference (plus-5.5) through five matches, but those back-to-back draws have them tied for fourth in the standings.
Prediction: Last year’s playoff matchup did not come with MNUFC using two forwards. On Saturday, the in-form duo of Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi are the difference. Loons win 2-1.
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