Minnesota United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
When: Allianz Field
Where: 2 p.m. Sunday
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy, 16 mph north wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-120; draw plus-270; Vancouver plus-250
Form: The Loons’ current eight-match unbeaten streak matches the club record, and with 16 points they sit in a tie for second place in the Western Conference — yet they only come close to how hot Vancouver has been to start 2025. Even without Ryan Gauld, the Whitecaps lead the West with 20 points.
Broader form: Vancouver has knocked off Monterrey and Pumas in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and beat Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in the first leg of the continental tournament’s semifinals on Thursday. The Loons have never even played in CCC.
Recent matchups: Both teams won at the other’s home last season, with the Loons victorious 1-0 on Hassani Dotson’s penalty kick in British Columbia in October, and Vancouver coming out with a 3-1 victory in St. Paul in July.
Check-in: There was no indication late this week that the Loons’ deal to bring in Julian Gressel from Miami has fallen through. By nature of unique circumstances, it did not need it to be finished before the close of the MLS primary transfer window on Wednesday.
Update: With Vancouver’s second leg against Miami coming Wednesday, Loons head coach Eric Ramsay and Co., will have a “difficult read” on how the Whitecaps will set up until the team sheet comes out Sunday. Vancouver, which has used nearly the same starting XI all season, will be expected to rotate and put priority on being fresh for a crucial match in CCC next week.
Quote: “They have done exceptionally well to get to the point they’ve got to with two competitions,” Ramsay said. “… We can only pay them the utmost respect.”
Absences: Hassani Dotson (knee), Owen Gene (ankle), Kipp Keller (hamstring) are out. Gene is improving and was running on the side during Thursday’s training session.
Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Tani Oluwaseyi, FW Kelvin Yeboah; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Robin Lod, MF Wil Trapp; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Nicholas Romero, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.
Key matchup: Yeboah and Oluwaseyi versus ‘Caps center backs Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon. Yeboah hasn’t scored in four matches, Oluwaseyi in his past two. Opponents have slashed scoring chances for the Loons’ athletic center forwards in recent weeks, and the Whitecaps pair has been stingy all season.
Stats: Vancouver’s plus-11 goal differential is tops in MLS. They are second in the league with 17 goals scored and tied for first with only six conceded in nine matches.
Prediction: The Loons have played two straight scoreless matches, and Vancouver is coming off one of its own against St. Louis. Another one in this match between two top teams would be a massive disappointment. After Vancouver beat heavyweight Pumas in Mexico City this month, they smoked Austin FC 5-1 three days later. They are just too scorching hot right now to pick against. Vancouver 1, Minnesota 0.
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