Minnesota United "justified the work" they did in preparing for a penalty shootout after beating Real Salt Lake, so says Eric Ramsay.

Loons coach Ramsay invited the club's office staff to attend the training ground and jeer his players during penalty practice ahead of Minnesota's playoff opener against Salt Lake.

After a 0-0 draw, Minnesota came away with a 5-4 shootout victory to take the edge in the best-of-three series, meaning a win at home on Saturday would get them into the next round.

And Ramsay believes his unorthodox method of preparation paid off.

"I would like to think that probably, without that, the players wouldn't have had the level of conviction they largely showed," Ramsay said.

"It was a bit of fun. There was a real sense of us being intentional behind that.

"I was really pleased that we included that as part of our prep.

"I don't think there were big chances given up either way.

"I sort of felt like as we opened up, we started to leak a little bit more space that wasn't there in the opening stages.

"[Goalkeeper] Dayne [St. Clair] was called into action a couple more times, and so was [Salt Lake goalkeeper] Zac MacMath. So I think it was a very even game, and given that we're coming here as the away team under challenging conditions, that's hats off to us.

“It felt like if we if we won, it would have justified the work. If we lost, there wouldn't have been anything we could have done differently.

"We were very solid, very disciplined, and that's one goal allowed in six games, which is very difficult to achieve at this level.

"I'm pleased with the defensive effort. I was also pleased that we were able to start to find a foothold in the game with the ball and create a couple of really good chances."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United - Dawyne St. Clair

St. Clair made six saves in Game 1, and has been in fine form as of late.

United has allowed only one goal in their last six matches going back to the end of the regular season, going unbeaten in that time (W4 D2). This is the first time in club history that the Loons have allowed just one goal in a span of six matches in all competitions.

Real Salt Lake - Cristian Arango

Arango attempted five shots in Game 1, the most shots attempted by a Salt Lake player in a postseason match since Damir Kreilach had six attempts against Sporting Kansas City in the 2018 playoffs.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WIN

Salt Lake have managed just four wins in 21 all-time away playoff matches (D7 L10) including going winless in four straight (D2 L2). RSL lost on penalties in each of the last two away matches that ended in draws (2022 at Austin FC, 2023 against the Houston Dynamo).

After Tuesday's win on spot-kicks, Minnesota have been involved in seven penalty shootouts in all competitions since joining MLS in 2017, winning six of them, including the last four in a row.

The last five meetings between Minnesota and Salt Lake have been drawn after 90 minutes.

Including playoffs, the only matchup that has been drawn six straight times in MLS play is between the Chicago Fire and the New York Revolution, who played in six straight draws from 2021 to 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United - 44.5%

Real Salt Lake - 28.6%

Draw - 26.9%

Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay feels his team are a match for anyone at Allianz Field, ahead of welcoming St. Louis City to the venue for Saturday's regular-season finale.

The Loons are guaranteed a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.

Should they beat St. Louis, they will avoid a play-in fixture by preventing the eighth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps from leapfrogging them at the last opportunity.

Speaking ahead of the game, Ramsay said he had enjoyed the opportunity to work with some of his players for an extended period during the international break.

"We've wanted to make sure that we train properly and get some real intensity into the sessions, I feel like you can be lulled into a false sense of security in two weeks," he said. 

"Everyone is absolutely raring to go on Saturday, I think we've achieved that. Hopefully the internationals come back with the bit between their teeth and ready to add to that energy.

"If I was an opposition coach analysing us, I'd be worried in the sense that we can score on the counterattack, we can score from organised play, we're a threat on set-pieces.

"We'll come good in that sense. If we're a good version of ourselves we're more than a match for anyone that comes here."

St. Louis are unable to make the postseason, sitting 12th in the West and nine points adrift of the playoff picture.

Asked what he wanted to get out of the game, interim head coach John Hackworth said: "Just a good performance. We have been in good form.

"One of the only teams in the league that has been in better form than us is Minnesota. Kudos to them, they've gone a fantastic job."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah 

Yeboah has hit 17 shots on target for Minnesota this season, with only Bongokuhle Hlongwane (26) registering more despite Yeboah not appearing in his first match for the Loons until late August.

St. Louis City – Cedric Teuchert 

Teuchert has recorded a team-high nine goal contributions (five goals, four assists) despite playing in just nine matches this season. 

The fewest games played by a player who led a team in goal contributions for a season is 10 (Clint Mathis for the MetroStars in 2001 and Danny Koevermans for Toronto FC in 2011).

MATCH PREDICTION – MINNESOTA UNITED

The visiting side has won all three meetings between Minnesota and St. Louis, including a 3-1 win for the Loons on September 14. However, a home victory could be in the offing this time.

St. Louis have only won one of their last 20 away matches in all competitions (eight draws, 11 defeats), while Minnesota have won three of their last five on home soil.

The Loons enter the final match of the season with 49 points and are looking to cross the 50-point mark for the second time in club history (53 in 2019). A victory would be their 15th for the season, equalling their club record also set in 2019.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 48.8%

St. Louis City – 25.5%

Draw – 25.7%

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic believes their togetherness will get them through their tough spot as they prepare to welcome Minnesota United in MLS.

The Whitecaps have already clinched a playoff spot, but have struggled in recent weeks, drawing one and losing three, with their last league win coming against San Jose Earthquakes on September 15.

They sit seventh in the Western Conference, with Minnesota just one place and one point below them, and Veselinovic hopes they can find a solution to their recent blip to put a bigger gap between them.

"We feel like we can do better," he said. "Seattle was a really poor performance, so we need to find a way to be better on Saturday.

"Now it's all about the mental side. We need to find a way, we don't know how yet, but we need to push through.

"The most important thing is to stay together in the locker room and get sharper in the duels and wanting to put in a better performance."

Meanwhile, Minnesota drew 0-0 with Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, failing to make it three wins on the bounce.

However, the draw was enough to clinch their playoff spot with two games remaining, though head coach Eric Ramsay is not going to ease up on the team.

"We really want to make sure that we focus on us, the upcoming games, and I've said from day one of this trip that we came here with a real sense of a mission and purpose," Ramsay said.

"We want to make sure that when we play that final home game that we are really playing for something with something secured."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Pedro Vite

Vancouver failed to score in an MLS game for the first time since early September and struggled to assert themselves in front of goal.

Pedro Vite showed their biggest threat, registering the most shots on target (two), had one of their three big chances, and had the most final third entries on the team (11).

Minnesota United – Bongokuhle Hlongwane

Minnesota also drew a blank in their most recent outing, but despite an underwhelming performance, Bongokuhle Hlongwane caused some problems.

He was responsible for 0.42 of their 0.77 expected goals (xG) and had the joint-most shots, but their top scorer could not find a breakthrough.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver are unbeaten in their last three matches against Minnesota (W2 D1), scoring three times in both of those wins, while they also got the better of the Loons in a pre-season friendly in February.

After a three-match unbeaten streak in MLS straight after the Leagues Cup break, the Whitecaps are now winless in four (D1 L3). They also drew the Canadian Championship final before prevailing on penalties last month.

Meanwhile, Minnesota have lost just one of their last six matches (W4 D1), but are unbeaten in their last three, keeping a clean sheet in each of those after a run of five without a shutout in the league.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 46.8%

Draw – 26.4%

Minnesota United – 26.8%

With only two home games left of the regular season, Eric Ramsay urged Minnesota United to come away with maximum points, starting against Colorado Rapids.

The Loons currently sit ninth in the Western Conference, but due to the tight nature of the table, they could spring up it with a win.

They have won their last three road games on the bounce, but have won just one of their last seven on home soil.

Following their 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City, Ramsay challenged his team to bring their away form to Allianz Field.

"We've got to win at home between now and the end of the year," he said. "That's the difference maker.

"We've done our bit against teams below us in the table away from home. We just need to do the easier bit, which is put in a performance at home and win a game there.

"If we can do that in the remaining two, we'll be in a really good position."

Meanwhile, Colorado sealed their playoff place with a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC last weekend.

They are third in the table having lost just one of their last five MLS matches, and head coach Chris Armas says spirits are high ahead of their latest road game.

"We're excited for a lot of reasons right now," Armas said. "We've clinched a playoff spot; we've got another game coming up against a good team on the road.

"It's an opportunity to show that we can have a disciplined performance with a lot to play for. The energy in the team is very good, and confidence is high.

"We have our sights set on getting our position up in the playoffs to get that home game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah

Kelvin Yeboah has scored in three straight regular-season matches, the sixth different Minnesota United player to record at least one three-game goalscoring streak.

No player in the team's history has scored in four straight league matches.

Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic

Djordje Mihailovic scored his 11th goal of the season on Saturday to go along with his 11 assists in 2024.

The only Rapids player to record more than 22 goal contributions in a single regular season was Diego Rubio (23) in 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota have won seven of nine all-time home matches against Colorado in all competitions, including the last three in a row. The Loons have outscored the Rapids 8-2 over the current three-match run.

Minnesota have now won four of their last six regular-season matches (lost two) after a nine-game winless run from early June to mid-July (drawn two, lost seven).

The Loons, who beat Sporting Kansas City 2-0 last Saturday, have not kept consecutive regular season clean sheets since May 2023.

However, the Rapids have won nine of their last 13 regular season matches (drawn one, lost three), including four of the last five. Only LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew (10 each) have recorded more wins than the Rapids since that run began in mid-June.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 42.1%

Draw – 26.7%

Colorado Rapids – 31.2%

Eric Ramsay is hopeful Minnesota United's latest defeat has not dented their momentum as they prepare to travel to Sporting Kansas City in MLS.

Minnesota have won two and lost two of their last four MLS matches, with those two victories both coming on the road.

They are ninth in the Western Conference after losing to FC Cincinnati in their last outing, failing to mount a comeback after two first-half goals from their visitors.

Ramsay was slightly disappointed by the result but is determined to take the positives from that game as they continue their playoff push.

"We showed some naivety [against Cincinnati] with the goals we conceded, but the game as a whole was largely very good," he said.

"We went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the whole division. We have to take that as a positive and use that as a step forward, as a continuation of the momentum that we've built so far and not let it dent what we've already done."

Meanwhile, Sporting are 12th in the league, having lost just one of their last five league matches.

They beat Colorado Rapids 4-1 last time out, with Alan Pulido netting a brace, and head coach Peter Vermes was delighted to see him getting in on the goals.

"Alan has this level in him and has great form over the past two months, but we're playing him in better places on the field," Vermes said. "We haven't found enough chances to get him in on goal, and we need to keep improving that.

"The good thing is that we have options, we're not stuck. We're limitless right now, we have a lot of different ways in which we can put different combinations of players on the field."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting KC – Alan Pulido

Pulido scored twice in Kansas City's win over Colorado on Wednesday, his seventh multi-goal game for Sporting.

The only two players in club history with more multi-goal regular season games are Dom Dwyer (10) and Digital Takawira (eight).

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah

Kelvin Yeboah scored from the penalty spot on Wednesday, with three of his four goals this season have been via penalty kicks.

Yeboah is the fourth player to have 3+ penalty kick goals in a season for Minnesota, with Darwin Quintero being the only Loons player with more (four in 2019).

MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN

Sporting KC have won 10 of their 11 all-time home matches against Minnesota, including the last four in a row. Minnesota's lone result at Sporting was a 3-0 victory in the 2020 playoffs.

Indeed, Kansas City have won three straight home matches across all competitions, with all three victories coming by multiple goals. This is the first time Sporting have won three straight home games, all by 2+ goals, since a four-game run to start the 2019 season.

However, after going winless in eight straight on the road (D2 L6), Minnesota have recorded back-to-back wins away from home. The longest road winning streak in club history in all competitions is three matches, achieved in both 2022 and 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting KC – 46.8%

Draw – 26.4%

Minnesota United – 26.8%

Seattle Sounders midfielder Joao Paolo insists every game matters and wants his team-mates to prove that against Minnesota United.

The Sounders return to MLS action on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal but will meet them again in the US Open Cup semifinal next week.

Seattle sit seventh in the tightly contested Western Conference, and Paulo has warned against the danger of looking past their test against Minnesota and focusing on the wrong game.

"We need to make a good game this weekend against Minnesota," he said.

"We need to try to build some momentum again and go in strong for the last few games. I think it's a good test for us ahead of next week [US Open Cup semi-final].

"The most important game is the next one, so we need to go in with that mentality."

Meanwhile, Minnesota sit four points below Saturday's opponents in ninth in the table.

They suffered disappointment in the Leagues Cup, bowing out in the group stage having lost their opener 2-0 to Seattle.

Minnesota suffered a dip in form prior to the break, but new signing Kelvin Yeboah says he buys into the club's promise.

"The project intrigued me, and speaking to the coach drew me to the club," Yeboah said.

"I made this decision based on the club's project and on the league, it's all growing, and that's what intrigued me."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Robin Lod has been involved in a career-high 17 regular-season goals in 2024 (six goals, 11 assists).

Only Darwin Quintero (26) in 2018 and Emanuel Reynoso (21) in 2022 have been involved in more in a single regular season in Minnesota's MLS history.

Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris

Jordan Morris has scored a team-high nine regular-season goals for the Sounders in 2024.

With another goal, the American would become the ninth player in MLS history, and the first for Seattle, to have five double-digit scoring seasons with a single team.

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Minnesota have won only one of 16 all-time meetings with the Sounders in all competitions (two draws, 13 losses). All three matches in which the Loons avoided defeat against Seattle came at home, including a 1-1 draw at Allianz Field last August.

The Sounders have won 10 of their 12 matches in all competitions dating back to late June. Both defeats in that time were 3-0 home losses to Los Angeles FC.

Meanwhile, Minnesota have won their last two home matches in all competitions, recording a 2-0 league win over San Jose Earthquakes before defeating Necaxa, 1-0, in the Leagues Cup. This is the first time the Loons have kept clean sheets in two straight home matches since a run of three straight in August-September 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 34.2%

Draw – 25.8%

Seattle Sounders – 40%

D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne says his side deserved the win that snapped their winless streak as they aim to keep their momentum against Minnesota United.

D.C. were on an 11-match winless run, losing eight, including a heavy 5-0 thrashing at Orlando City before their 2-1 comeback win against Nashville on Saturday.

The victory lifted them to 12th in the Eastern Conference, and another win could put them in touching distance of the playoffs.

Lesesne was pleased to finally put their torrid run behind them, saying: "I try to stay away from really obvious statements, but everyone knows the last couple of months haven't been what we wanted.

"There's performances in there, but we didn't see three points. There were so many individual performances that willed that to happen, and they've been fighting, they deserve this."

Meanwhile, Minnesota snapped their six-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo at the weekend.

The Loons moved into ninth in the Western Conference, though they still remain without a win in any of their last eight MLS outings.

However, head coach Eric Ramsay remained optimistic and is keen to build on the result to get them back in contention.

"It was a really important point," Ramsay said.

"I'm incredibly pleased with the application of the players, their aggression, their intent to spot the run we're on at the moment, so we take a lot from that."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Robin Lod scored his sixth goal of the season in Minnesota's draw on Saturday, his fourth season with at least six goals.

No other player in the team's MLS history has more than two seasons with six or more goals.

D.C. United – Cristian Dajome

Cristian Dajome's brace in D.C. United's win over Nashville on Saturday was the seventh multi-goal game by a D.C. United player since the start of the 2023 season, but the first by somebody other than Christian Benteke.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

The home side have won all five meetings between Minnesota and D.C., with the last meeting a 2-0 home win for the Loons in 2022. Minnesota have outscored D.C., 7-0, in their three meetings at home.

Minnesota United ended their club-record six-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Houston on Saturday but remain winless in eight straight (drawn two, lost six), the longest regular-season winless run in the team's MLS history.

Meanwhile, D.C. snapped their 11-match winless run with a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday. D.C. have not won consecutive matches within a single season since a four-match winning run in April 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 54.2%

Draw – 23.5%

D.C. United – 22.3%

Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay believes they will bounce back from their recent disappointing run against LA Galaxy on Sunday.

The Loons have not won any of their last six matches in MLS, losing each of the last five on the bounce, and dropped to eighth in the Western Conference.

Minnesota have been without players due to injury and international duty, but with some of those starting to return, Ramsay is hopeful it will be the spark they need to snap their losing streak.

"In the grand scheme of this difficult run that we're on and the circumstances that surround it, there were elements of the last performance where we looked back at our best," Ramsay said.

"I think it's as simple as welcoming players back from injuries and internationals to get us back to the feeling before all of this took place.

"That's a very realistic take on the situation, though we will look back at this period with some real regret and disappointment that we haven't picked up the points we could and should've done."

Meanwhile, the Galaxy's four-game winning streak was ended by Los Angeles FC in Thursday’s El Trafico derby.

Now three points off top spot, having slipped to third, head coach Greg Vanney was left to bemoan LA's failure to create chances at the Rose Bowl.

"I'm not interested in being a possession team for the sake of passing the ball around," Vanney said.

"We need to use possession to put the opposition on their heels to score goals, to bury them and make them feel like we're relentlessly coming at them, not so they can set up and be comfortable and turn us over and go the other way."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec

Gabriel Pec scored against Los Angeles FC and has now been involved in a goal in five straight appearances, tied for the second-longest active streak in MLS.

The Brazilian is the second Galaxy player this season to record a streak of five games with a goal contribution, after Dejan Joveljic in February-March.

Minnesota United – Bongokuhle Hlongwane

Bongokuhle Hlongwane has recorded a goal and an assist in two consecutive away matches, one of two players (Lionel Messi) to do so in consecutive road games this season.

Only two players in MLS history have a goal and an assist in three straight road games – Junior Agogo in 2000 and Ante Razov in 1999.

MATCH PREDICTION: LA GALAXY WIN

The Galaxy won six of their first eight matches against Minnesota United (drawing two) from the Loons' MLS entry in 2017 through August 2021. Since then, LA have won just one of seven meetings with Minnesota (drawn three, lost three).

The Galaxy's 2-1 defeat to LAFC on Thursday was their fourth loss of the season, and the second against their derby rivals. They have not lost two straight matches since last October, with the second of those defeats coming against Minnesota.

However, Minnesota have lost five straight regular-season matches for the first time in club history.  The Loons had suffered only three defeats in 16 league matches this season prior to this run (won eight, drew five).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 49.9%

Draw – 25.3%

Minnesota United – 24.8%

Nico Estevez believes FC Dallas are building towards a big result against a top team as they travel to Minnesota United on Saturday.

Dallas are winless in their last four games and have not won on the road yet this season, leaving them 12th in the Western Conference with 13 points.

Estevez said he was pleased with the performances he has seen away from home so far and is hopeful they can turn that into their first win.

"I think it's important because overall, we have performed very well against the top teams in the West," said Estevez, as quoted by the Big D Soccer substack. 

"I think we were unlucky not to have more points than we have. We have to take those positives, but as I said to the guys, is all these little steps that we are making, and we're feeling better about how we're competing against top teams."

Meanwhile, Minnesota got back to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.

With other teams around them not playing this weekend, the Loons have the opportunity to leapfrog Los Angeles FC into second and close the gap to leaders Real Salt Lake to two points.

They are missing players due to international duty, but head coach Eric Ramsay is confident his side are in a good position to get a positive result.

"We will do what we can [against Dallas] with a group of very hungry players, but it's a testing position [to be without so many players through internationals]," said Ramsay.

"Hopefully our squad is stronger for that. We've given ourselves a bit of breathing space [with the win last weekend], but I'm genuinely excited about how we shape up and see what we can produce."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Lod came off the bench to score against Kansas City on Saturday, his seventh straight regular-season home match with a goal contribution, tying Darwin Quintero for the second-longest run in club history.

Only Lod himself has had a longer streak, contributing to a goal in 13 straight at home in 2020-21.

FC Dallas – Asier Illarramendi

Illarramendi completed 91 of his 99 pass attempts at Los Angeles FC on Saturday. The last Dallas player to complete more passes in an away match was Javier Morales (96) at Colorado in October 2017.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota have only lost one of their last 10 meetings with Dallas (W5 D4, incl. playoffs) dating back to September 2020. Dallas had won five of the first seven meetings between the sides prior to September 2020 (L2).

The Loons’ win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday took them to 28 points from 15 matches this season, six more than they have ever had at this stage of a season in club history.

Meanwhile, Dallas are winless in their first eight away matches this season (D2 L6), equaling the second-longest road winless run to begin a season in club history (also eight in 2012). Dallas only went longer before a road win in 2000, failing to win any of their first 11 away from home that year.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 53%

Draw – 24%

FC Dallas – 23%

Eric Ramsay wants Minnesota United to move on quickly from their poor run of form, starting with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Minnesota were on a five-match winning run in the MLS, but have failed to win either of their previous two outings, drawing with Colorado Rapids before losing to Los Angeles FC in midweek.

They still sit fourth in the Western Conference, though, and are only five points behind leaders Real Salt Lake.

Ramsay remains optimistic despite their recent form, but admits they need to address the problems sooner rather than later.

"The general level of performance [in the last game] was obviously far better than the one before," he said.

"We certainly showed some positive steps, but I know the big thing for us is that we approach Saturday's game with real positivity in a real constructive way. We've got to see [the loss to LAFC] for what it is and move on swiftly.

"We really want to look in the mirror hard, and we've got to go and meet the conditions on Saturday with everything that we've got."

Kansas City sit at the opposite end of the table, with just 11 points after winning only two of their games so far this season.

After suffering their sixth consecutive loss, Peter Vermes admitted they have a tough test ahead of them due to their poor start.

Not good. We're in last place in our division, so we're not in a good spot," said Vermes.

"We've got to keep fighting. I can't sit here and say there's no effort because there is, for sure. We've just got to cut down these mistakes. We've got a good group, and something's got to turn our way, and then we can ride that."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Lod has recorded a goal contribution in six straight home matches. This is the third-longest regular-season streak of goal contributions in home appearances in the Loons’ MLS history after a 13-match streak by Lod himself in 2020-21 and a seven-match run by Darwin Quintero in 2018.

Sporting Kansas City – Martinos Tzionis

Tzionis scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday, becoming the 12th different Kansas City player to score in regular-season play in 2024, most in MLS.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota ended a four-match losing streak against Kansas City with a 2-1 victory on April 27. Minnesota have never defeated Kansas City twice within a single regular season.

The Loons recorded a 2-1 win over Portland in their last home match. Minnesota have not won two straight at Allianz Field in all competitions since wins over Austin FC and Houston Dynamo in August 2022.

Meanwhile, Kansas City have lost six consecutive regular-season matches for the first time since a seven-match losing streak in 2006. Sporting are winless in nine straight league matches and could equal the longest single-season winless run in club history at 10 (set in 2011, matched in 2023).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 52.5%

Draw – 24.3%

Sporting Kansas City – 23.2%

Atlanta United are not concerned by their winless run in MLS, so says Caleb Wiley.

The Five Stripes have not won in four MLS games, ahead of a home meeting with Minnesota United on Saturday.

Wiley, however, believes Atlanta’s attacking play has been such that it is only a matter of time until results start turning.

“It will come,” said Wiley. “We are creating so many chances. I know it is frustrating, but the goals will come. We are not worried because we have the talent to do that [score goals].

“We know that it is still early in the season. We still have a lot more games to go. We have so much more to learn. That is what we are all excited about; that is what I am excited about for this team. We have so much more to do, and to show everybody.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture, Atlanta coach Gonzalo Pineda said: “We have watched all the games.

“We have prepared tactically for whatever lineup or structure they present. So, it is about our principles and how we play. How we can balance their backline, and how we can create enough chances for our attacking players to be near the goal line.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Thiago Almada

Almada has 11 goals and 13 assists in regular-season home matches since the start of last season, one of two players (Luciano Acosta) with at least 10 goals and 10 assists in home matches in that time.

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

Lod has recorded an assist in four straight matches, equalling Darwin Quintero (2018—19) for the longest regular-season streak in Minnesota United’s history. He is the first Loons’ player to do so within a single season.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

Atlanta’s eight-match home unbeaten run in all competitions (W6 D2) ended with a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati on April 20. Atlanta have lost consecutive home matches in all competitions in nearly three years, since losing to New England and Columbus in July 2021.

The Five Stripes have won four of five all-time meetings with Minnesota (L1). The Loons’ lone victory was a 3—2 win at Atlanta in October 2017.

However, Minnesota are off to the best start in club history with 17 points from their first nine matches of the season. The Loons have won three of their four road matches (L1) after winning only three of their final 14 regular-season away matches in 2023 (D2 L9).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 47.7%

Minnesota United – 25.2%

Draw – 27.1%

Eric Ramsay has left Manchester United to join Minnesota United and become the youngest head coach in Major League Soccer history.

The 32-year-old Welshman, who was a first-team coach under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, is the latest British coach to cross the Atlantic, joining the likes of Phil Neville and Dean Smith.

In a statement issued by Minnesota United, Ramsay said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining a club with such a strong football culture, a fanatic fan-base and a brilliant infrastructure.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of the club’s staff throughout the process and you can’t help but feel everyone’s passion for moving the club forward.”

Ramsay joined Manchester United as a coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021 and also served as an assistant coach to the Welsh national team in 2023.

He started his career working with junior levels at Swansea and also acted as interim head coach at his home-town club Shrewsbury before moving to work with the Chelsea Under-23s.

Ramsay became the youngest British coach to earn his UEFA Pro Licence in 2019.

Minnesota’s Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad said: “After an extensive search that included dozens of impressive domestic and international candidates, we are confident that Eric Ramsay is the best choice to lead our club.

“His experience working with top-level players, coaches, and sporting staff at both the club and international level – as well as his alignment in playing style and development philosophy – all fit with the vision we have for the future of MNUFC.”

Eric Ramsay is set to take over at Minnesota United and become the latest British coach to take a management job in Major League Soccer.

The 32-year-old will become the youngest ever head coach in the United States and Canada’s top division when the Manchester United coach completes his move to the Twin Cities.

PA understands Ramsay has agreed a deal to take over at Minnesota following next weekend’s Manchester derby and the Welshman will swell the number of British head coaches in MLS to six.

Gary Smith is in charge of Nashville, John Herdman is at Toronto and ex-England international Phil Neville recently took charge at the Portland Timbers having previously managed Inter Miami.

Dean Smith, the former Aston Villa and Leicester boss, is another recent appointment by an MLS club having joined ambitious Charlotte FC in the winter.

The 52-year-old took charge of his first competitive match on Saturday as they won their season opener 1-0 at home to New York City FC, who are coached by fellow Englishman Nick Cushing.

“If somebody asked for my advice, I would say to anybody in England come to MLS,” Cushing, who previously managed Manchester City’s women’s team, said.

“Just purely based off, firstly, the challenge is like the Championship in the sense of its really competitive.

“The opportunity to win is there if you have a good strategy, good structure, good sort of way of working. You have to back your coaching, your staff and your recruitment.

“But also we’re playing in the Carolina Panthers stadium in front of 65,000. It’s amazing.

“The games never stop. The games will go for 96 minutes. They don’t die down. Apple TV, the infrastructure around this league is excellent, so I don’t think we can affect the perception on that end.

“I’m sure Dean will say in three, four, five months’ time that this was a great move for him because he will see that you get to see the whole of America, the challenge is great.”

Smith pipped former Chelsea and Everton boss Frank Lampard to the Charlotte post and British coaches of all ages are paying increasing attention to MLS.

“I’ve had a lot of people ask if I need any more coaches wanting to get out here,” the former Villa boss said.

“I’m still on the board of the LMA (League Managers Association) so I’ll do a talk for them on what it is like.”

There are also Brits in senior positions in MLS, including DC United’s Scottish general manager Ally Mackay and NYCFC sporting director David Lee.

The latter joined New York Red Bulls from hometown club Exeter in 2011 and then went on to become one of the first employees at NYCFC three years later.

Lee has seen marked change in approach during his time in MLS, from clubs being more open-minded to more experienced coaches wanting to move Stateside.

“I would say that five to seven years ago there was a perception that foreign coaches didn’t work,” Lee said.

“Over time, clubs started to realise that it’s not where you’re from, it is just how good you are. There is a core American coaching tree in MLS, but more clubs are being more adventurous.

“The level of our league has increased to where it becomes more interesting for English coaches than it would have been five years ago.

“The standard has improved, budgets have improved.

“I’d have been surprised if five years ago you could have got someone like Dean Smith into this league. That is a big change.”

Justin McMaster and Javain Brown were selected by Minnesota United and the Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively, in the MLS Super Draft earlier today.

Trinidad and Tobago Kevin Molino says playing with better quality players at Columbus Crew will help him raise his level of play as he eyes a successful career and a championship title with the 2020 Major League Soccer champions.