Minnesota United vs. Club America
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shell Oil Stadium, Houston
Stream: FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Weather: 84 degrees, 5 mph east wind
Form: MNUFC got off to a steamrolling start to Leagues Cup with a 4-1 blowout win over Queretaro on Wednesday, while America stumbled in a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake. That ended with RSL earning an extra point in a penalty kick shootout.
Standings: After the opening match days for all teams, the Loons stand in the fourth and final MLS knockout spot with three points and a plus-3 goal differential. America is ninth in Liga MX table with one point and a zero goal differential.
View: This tournament shows how watered-down the MLS Cup Playoffs have become. Only 22% of teams in Leagues Cup advance (eight of 36), compared to 60% in MLS’ postseason (18 of 30). MLS does it this way to give mediocre teams something to play for late in the regular season, but it more so creates a bigger volume of playoff games. There is probably a happy middle ground between the two. But in the meantime, MLS gives out participation ribbons.
Context: Since the tournament expanded in 2023, the Loons have won four straight against clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX in this tournament: beating Puebla and Toluca two years ago and Necaxa last summer.
Quote: ESPN commentator Herculez Gomez on the status of America in a post on X: “4 wins in the last 18 games. Can’t defend set pieces to save their life. No new signings. On the brink of elimination from another international tournament. Club America may be coming off 4 straight league finals, but they can’t feel good about this.”
Full picture: With Minnesota in three competitions, here’s the club’s leading scorers across them all: 1. Kelvin Yeboah, 13 (9 MLS, 3 U.S. Open Cup, 1 Leagues Cup); 2. Tani Oluwaseyi, 10 (9, 0, 1); 3. Anthony Markanich, 9 (6, 2, 1). The Loons strikers are expected to be atop the list, but its once-backup left wingback continues a dream year.
Look-ahead: America is expected to be have a huge home field advantage in muggy Houston on Saturday, but the Loons will have some of their veterans rested and ready. Wil Trapp didn’t play Wednesday, while Michael Boxall came on for only 18 minutes against Queretaro.
Scouting report: America has two key attackers with U.S. connections: Brian Rodriquez and Alejandro Zendejas. Rodriquez played for LAFC, while Zendejas started at FC Dallas and is a U.S. international. Both were on the Liga MX team for the MLS All-Star Game in July. Each have scored this year, including Rodriquez vs. RSL.
Prediction: Given its championship standard, Club America will feel enormous pressure to beat a Loons side with a fraction of its payroll. MNUFC will be defensively sound and will likely find success on set pieces, but will only get one point in a draw (1-1) before falling in PKs.
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