Minnesota United Needs Aid To Reach MLS Playoffs
The Loons must win Saturday and rely on specific losses by rivals to secure a spot in the postseason.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Minnesota United FC requires a victory over San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday to keep its MLS Cup Playoff hopes alive. The match begins at 6 p.m. at Allianz Field in St. Paul. The Loons, currently in 12th place in the Western Conference with 41 points, have won two consecutive matches. Their last result was a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
San Jose enters the game with 52 points after defeating Real Salt Lake 2-1 last weekend. That win ended a five-match winless streak for the Earthquakes. The teams met twice earlier this year. Minnesota beat San Jose 5-1 in regular season play on Aug. 22. San Jose won 4-2 in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 on April 28.
The Loons must win Saturday and see two other results go in their favor to qualify for the playoffs. Five specific scenarios allow Minnesota to advance. One scenario requires Portland Timbers to lose at Austin FC and Colorado Rapids to lose at FC Dallas. Another requires Portland to lose at Austin and Seattle Sounders to lose at Los Angeles FC. A third scenario involves Colorado losing at Dallas and Seattle losing at LAFC.
Two scenarios involve Seattle drawing with LAFC. In those cases, Minnesota must win the tiebreaker against Seattle. The tiebreaker likely depends on season goal differential and goals scored. Wil Trapp is out for Minnesota due to concussion protocol.
Minnesota climbed from 14th place in late September after shifting to a back-four defense. Center backs Morris Duggan and Jefferson Diaz anchor the unit, with Cherrion Valerius at right back and Anthony Markanich at left back. Duggan said the change simplified how the team defends. "It's been a big step for us," Duggan said Friday. The midfield pairing of Owen Gene and Nectar Triantis has been effective, with the team going 7-0-3 when they start together.
Striker Kelvin Yeboah has scored four goals in the last six games, setting a club single-season record with 18 goals. Head coach Cameron Knowles noted that the squad continued to trust the process. "They've just continued to push and believe and trust each other and keep working," Knowles said. The game will be streamed on Apple TV and broadcast on KSTP-AM 1500. The weather forecast calls for 47 degrees and overcast skies.
The Loons have been unbeaten in six games with a record of 3-0-3. They have climbed the standings since a winless stretch in September. The outcome of Saturday's game against San Jose will determine if they stay in contention for the postseason.
