Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Minnesota United and Austin FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two sides who could really do with a victory lock horns at the Allianz Field on Sunday as Minnesota United entertain the challenge of Austin FC.
The hosts have come out on top in just one of their last six matches, while their visitors make the trip this weekend winless in five consecutive outings.
Match preview
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Minnesota United suffered a second defeat on the bounce following a 5-3 loss to Dallas FC in Thursday’s thrilling encounter at the Toyota Stadium.
Joined by Jesus Ferreira and Logan Farrington on the score sheet, Petar Musa was the star of the show as he grabbed a hat-trick to sink Eric Ramsay‘s men, who registered through Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Hassani Dotson and Wil Trapp.
Consequently, The Loons remain fourth in the Western Conference of the MLS table but are now eight points shy of division leaders Real Salt Lake.
Next up is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose from over the previous eight editions of this fixture which have yielded four wins apiece.
Unbeaten in each of their last five home involvements, Sunday’s hosts have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans and will be confident of a positive result here.
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Austin FC snapped a run of three defeats in a row with a 1-1 stalemate against Los Angeles FC at the Q2 Stadium in Texas on Thursday morning.
Josh Wolff‘s men edged ahead in the 19th minute through Jader Obrian and looked set to come away with all three points before Kei Kamara restored parity in the dying embers.
With 24 points picked up from 19 matches this term, Los Verdes sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, outside the automatic playoff places only on goal difference.
Having failed to win any of their most recent five matches on the road leading up to this weekend, Sunday’s visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to record a rare away triumph.
Minnesota United Major League Soccer form:
Austin FC Major League Soccer form:
Team News
Austin’s Jhojan Valencia was shown his fifth yellow card of the season last time out which will see the midfielder incur a one-game suspension in this one.
This should see 23-year-old Daniel Pereira make an immediate return to the visitors’ starting lineup having recently served a ban.
Hugo Bacharach Capedevila and Emanuel Reynoso remain sidelined for Minnesota through injury but Moses Nyeman is available to play again after missing the defeat to Dallas through suspension.
South African international Bongokuhle Hlongwane has been directly involved in four goals in his last four matches for the hosts, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Irwin; Adebayo-Smith, Tapias, Boxall, Arriaga, Clark; Fragapane, Dotson, Lod; Jeong, Hlongwane
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Gallagher, Vaisanen, Hines-Ike, Guilherme; Ring, Pereira; Obrian, Driussi, Finlay; Rubio
We say: Minnesota United 2-1 Austin FC
The sides boast similar defensive records heading into this one but Minnesota have been significantly better at the top end of the pitch and we are backing them to emerge victorious, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.