Minnesota United can end a four-match losing run versus the Seattle Sounders when the two sides clash in Major League Soccer action on Sunday at Allianz Field.
The Loons climbed above the Western Conference playoff line last weekend thanks to a 2-0 win at New York City FC, while Seattle sit fourth following a 2-0 defeat against Atlanta United.
Match preview
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Sustaining plenty of pressure and making your transitional moments count proved to be another successful strategy for Adrian Heath and Minnesota last weekend.
That triumph versus New York City was the third successive time that the Loons were able to collect at least a single point away from home in this competition, despite finishing with fewer than 40% of the possession.
In their last two MLS away fixtures, Minnesota have scored five goals, though they have not been quite as prolific at home in league play, with a goal or fewer in all but one domestic encounter this year (4-1 win over the Portland Timbers).
This team may be back above the playoff line, but there is little room for error moving forward, with Dallas nipping at their heels, just a point behind them with 11 games remaining for each in the regular season.
They have conceded first in four of their last five domestic affairs at Allianz Field but have managed to come back and earn a point on three of those occasions, including in their previous MLS home game when they picked up a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC.
It has been over two years since the Loons got the better of Seattle in a competitive match, collecting a 1-0 victory in July 2021, the only time they have ever come away with all three points against the Rave Green.
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The 2023 campaign has been a strange one for Brian Schmetzer and his Sounders, who are in a solid position to return to the postseason but do not look as fine-tuned as we have seen in the past.
The core of this team have stayed together over the past few years, yet Seattle have rarely looked like the contending team we are used to seeing, losing four of their last five matches in all competitions while conceding multiple times in five of their previous six competitive fixtures.
Lately, the Rave Green have looked particularly vulnerable on the road, conceding multiple strikes in five of their last six away matches in all competitions, losing five of those encounters.
The good news is that despite their current slump, the Sounders are still within reach of second place in the Western Conference, trailing Los Angeles FC by just four points, and they are six points clear of Dallas, who are outside of the playoff picture, so a postseason berth for Seattle seems likely.
With 36 points already locked up this season, the Rave Green have collected four more than they had after 25 games in 2022 when they missed the MLS Cup playoffs for the first and only time.
Seattle have scored six times in their last five league fixtures away from home, with only one of those strikes coming in the opening half.
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Team News
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Last Sunday, Minnesota were missing Kervin Arriaga, Robin Lod and Ryen Jiba, all of whom are still suffering from knee injuries.
Emanuel Reynoso played just over an hour against New York City, yet his team still held their own, as Jan Gregus and Mender Garcia both scored in the second half with Dayne St. Clair stopping all five of the shots that he faced for the clean sheet.
Teemu Pukki is goalless in his last seven competitive fixtures since netting in their 3-0 road win at the Houston Dynamo, while Bongokuhle Hlongwane has not scored in back-to-back games, after notching seven for the Loons in their first four matches at the Leagues Cup.
Cristian Roldan was forced out of the Sounders match last weekend because of concussion protocol, Kelyn Rowe is dealing with a right quad strain and Dylan Teves has a sore left hamstring.
In their previous game against Atlanta, Fredy Montero featured for the first time in an MLS fixture since Seattle played Orlando City to a 0-0 draw in June, replacing Nicolas Lodeiro in the second half last Sunday, while Paul Rothrock replaced Leo Chu in that encounter, his first appearance of the campaign after signing a first-team deal with the club earlier this month.
A pair of Sounders players have had plenty of success when facing the Loons in the past, with Raul Ruidiaz netting four times versus Minnesota and Joao Paulo scoring on three occasions.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Taylor, Boxall, Tapias, Bristow; Trapp, Dotson; Hlongwane, Reynoso, Tajouri-Shradi; Pukki
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez, Arreaga, Tolo; Rusnak, Paulo; Morris, Lodeiro, Chu; Ruidiaz
We say: Minnesota United 2-1 Seattle Sounders
Minnesota seem to always step it up when the games matter most, and we expect their desperation to remain above the playoff line will serve them well against a Sounders side who have looked a little too comfortable with their position and have played with plenty of complacency.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
