Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Real Salt Lake will be looking to move within three points of the top of the Western Conference table when they play host to Minnesota United at the America First Field on Wednesday.
Having turned a corner in recent weeks, a rejuvenated Minnesota side set out in search of a fourth MLS away victory on the bounce as they make a late push to secure automatic qualification for the playoffs.
Match preview
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Real Salt Lake suffered another blow in their push to clinch the Western Conference crown as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Austin FC after throwing away their two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Following a goalless first half at the Q2 Stadium, Matt Crooks and Diogo Goncalves hit the target to put the visitors in the driver’s seat but Jader Obrian and Guilherme Biro scored in an eight-minute spell to force a share of the spoils.
This was a second consecutive game in which Real Salt Lake have given up two goals after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Portland Timbers on September 22, with Jonathan Rodriguez hitting the target in the 92nd minute to hand the Timbers a hard-earned point.
A run of just two wins from their last nine league games since mid July has seen Pablo Mastroeni‘s title pursuit come under serious threat as they sit third in the Western Conference table, six points adrift of first-placed Los Angeles Galaxy.
This poor late-season form has been owing to their struggles away from home, where the Clarets and Cobalt have failed to win any of their last five matches in the league, claiming just two points from a possible 15 since scraping a 4-3 victory at Sporting Kansas City on June 20.
With just three games left to go in the regular season, Real Salt Lake must avoid any further slip-ups and also hope for favourable results elsewhere as they look to secure their first-ever conference title.
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Minnesota United, on the other hand, maintained their fine run of results in the season run-in as they picked up a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Colorado Rapids at the weekend.
In a one-sided affair at Allianz Field, Kelvin Yeboah was among the goals once again as he scored twice hand the hosts a commanding lead before 27-year-old Hassani Dotson put the result beyond reach with an 82nd-minute strike.
Minnesota United have now picked up four wins from their last five games — with a 2-1 home defeat against FC Cincinnati on September 19 being the exception — having managed just one victory in the 10 games preceding this run.
While this upturn in form has seen Eric Ramsay‘s men surge into eighth-place in the Western Conference standings, level on 45 points with ninth-placed Portland Timbers in the second play-in spot, they could move level with sixth-placed Houston Dynamo with a win on Wednesdays.
However, Minnesota United will need to show their mettle on Wednesday as they have failed to win any of their last nine visits to America First Field, losing twice and claiming seven draws since a 3-1 victory back in May 2012.
Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:
Minnesota United Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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Real Salt Lake will take to the pitch without the services of Kevin Bonilla and Argentine midfielder Pablo Ruiz, who are currently recuperating from ACL and knee injuries respectively.
Veteran defender Marcelo Silva also continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines while Bode Hidalgo is set to sit out his third consecutive game after picking up a leg injury against FC Dallas on September 19.
While Cristian Arango has failed to find the back of the net in his last six matches, we expect the 29-year-old, who is currently third in the Golden Boot race with 17 goals in 27 games, to lead the hosts’ attack.
As for Minnesota, they will have to cope without the services of 36-year-old defender Boxall, who is suspended after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Colorado Rapids at the weekend.
On the injury front, Ramsay will be unable to call upon several players down the spine of the team as Teemu Pukki (thigh), Zarek Valentin (foot) and D.J. Taylor (muscle) continue their spells on the sidelines.
Yeboah has hit the ground running since completing a summer move from Genoa and the Italian striker, who has seven goals in six league games, will be one to keep an eye on.
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Quinton, Glad, Vera, Brody; Eneli, Ojeda; Marczuk, Crooks, Luna; Arango
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Harvey, Tapias, Diaz, Rosales; Hlongwane, Dotson, Trapp, Pereyra; Lod, Yeboah
We say: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Minnesota United
The stakes will be high when Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United lock horns on Wednesday and we anticipate a cagey affair at the America First Field. While Ramsay’s men head into the tie as the more in-form side, home advantage gives Real Salt Lake a slight edge and we predict they will return to winning ways, albeit by a slender margin.
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