Preview: Minnesota United vs Sporting Kansas City

Only two home matches remain in the 2019 season and both of them are this week, first up is a weeknight clash with Sporting Kansas City. This is the most important match of the MLS campaign for both sides. Minnesota United is a win away from clinching their first playoff berth since the 2015 NASL campaign and first since moving to Major League Soccer. Doing it at home would be extra special, not just for the fans but also the players and coaches.

“I think it will be nice to do it at home,” said Heath. “The relationship between the supporters and the players at Allianz Field has been incredible. I know they’ll bring their A game because we’ll need them to. We want the supporters to be as noisy and as loud as they have been all year and hopefully we can give them a performance that warrants that support because it would be a really big moment for us to clinch at home.”

SKC on the other hand needs a win because anything less than 3 points will end their season on October 6th. This is something Minnesota United knows and was echoed by Michael Boxall.

“It always feels nice when you end another team’s season whether it’s in the playoffs or whether it’s towards the end of the season,” Boxall stated.

The Loons will undoubtedly have the advantage having built Allianz Field into a fortress during it’s inaugural season. In competitive play MNUFC is 12-1-5 at their new home stadium, including a 4-1 US Open Cup win against a Sporting KC side that has been equally as bad on the road.

With no players out or questionable and no one on International duty the lineup will be free for Head Coach Adrian Heath to tweek as necessary. Heath stated after the match in Portland.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult for me to pick an 18.

With 16 of 18 player staying the same in the previous two matches this may be the one for some change in the lineup. This will certainly be an important fixture with a win and we’re in mentality for MNUFC and it’s not only into the MLS Playoffs. With LAFC clinching the 2019 MLS Supporters’ Shield the #2-5 seeds in the Western Conference will gain entry into the 2020 Leagues Cup. While the Loons failed to punch a ticket to the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League in the US Open Cup final there is still that opportunity too if they win the MLS Cup.

Injury Report:

Minnesota United FC

• Questionable: None
• Out: None

Sporting Kansas City

• Questionable: None
• Out: D – Rodney Wallace (hip), GK – Adrian Zendejas (back), M – Benny Feilhaber (quad), D – Andreu Fontas (Achilles)