Minnesota United at Los Angeles Galaxy
When: 8 p.m. CT Saturday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 73 degrees, clear skies, 8 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-160; draw plus-260; L.A. plus-160
Form: Fourth-place Minnesota (16-7-10, 58 points) beat Kansas City 3-0 on Oct. 4, then had last week off during the international window. Last-place Galaxy (8-18-9, 27 points) beat Dallas 2-1 last weekend to help its effort to avoid the Wooden Spoon, the fan-led trophy given to the team with MLS’ worst record.
Flashback: The Loons’ win over K.C. set a few milestones: the 16th victory set a new club record for regular-season wins; Joaquin Pereyra’s second-half goal was the 500th in club’s MLS history and his assist gave him a club-record 16 total assists in a season; Dayne St. Clair’s clean sheet was his 10th of the year, a personal best.
Recent matchups: The Loons are returning to the place they were bounced from the MLS Cup Playoffs last November. Galaxy rolled to a 6-2 semifinal win and went on to win MLS Cup. In regular-season action in March, MNUFC got a two goals from Kelvin Yeboah, but Christian Ramirez and Carlos Garces each scored in a 2-2 draw.
Context: Going into Decision Day, MNUFC is one point behind third-place LAFC and two behind San Diego, so the Loons can still finish as high as second. Galaxy might be down and out, but LAFC goes to Colorado, which is fighting for the ninth and final spot. San Diego travels to Portland, which is trying to hold onto the sixth spot. Jockeying for spots will have all four of those teams engaged.
Quote: “For ourselves, more than anything (and) less a reflection on who we may end up playing (Seattle is the fifth seed and most likely playoff matchup), we want to finish as high in the table as we can,” head coach Eric Ramsay said this week. “We want to do ourselves real justice in that sense.”
Update: Yeboah has been out with a hamstring injury since Sept. 17, but the striker returned to training sessions late last week. “I feel like he will be in good shape for the weekend,” Ramsay said Tuesday. “If we can push a return to play, we want him back and in good rhythm as soon as possible. We are not taking a long-term picture in that sense because there isn’t a long-term picture at play.”
Absences: Carlos Harvey (knee) is out. Ramsay said Harvey has been working out on a treadmill and is close to a return to the practice field. The center back/midfielder might be back in time for the first-round series, which start next weekend.
Scouting report: The Galaxy have allowed the second-most goals (65) in MLS this season, so this would be a great time for Yeboah to snag a goal and boost his confidence before the postseason.
Prediction: Galaxy have been decent after their dreadful start to the season, but Minnesota has much more to play for on Saturday. If Loons score early, L.A. players might start day-dreaming about their upcoming vacation destinations. MNUFC win 2-0.
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