Preview: MNUFC @ LA Galaxy

Minnesota United completes their 2021 regular season this evening against the LA Galaxy on Fox Sports 1. On the line for both teams is a trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs, which will begin in two weeks time. Out of the two sides, Minnesota has the easier way into the playoffs. Just don’t lose. As for the Galaxy, a draw would certainly help their chances, but there is still the possibility of being dropped below the playoff line with a loss.

This is the third meeting between the teams this season, both sides having won one and lost one in their previous two. Both of those matches were played in St. Paul with their last meeting in Carson, CA being back in the spring of 2019 when the Galaxy beat the Loons 3-2 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Not only that but the Loons are a paltry 3-7-6 away from Allianz Field this season while the Galaxy are 8-4-4 on their home pitch, so Minnesota has some work to do to gain points this evening.

“We are going to have to play well. We’re going to have to be ready from the very first whistle. Take our opportunities when they come,” said Adrian Heath. “The old saying ‘goals change games’, if you can get the first goal, the pressure would be enormous on the Galaxy then. Maybe they open up and then we can catch them on the counter. There’s all those things that are going to come into play. But more importantly the one thing I do know, we’re going to have to play well to win the game.”

While the match will be a tough one to gain points in, while it might not seem like it, Minnesota is 3-1-1 in their last five matches with 10 of a possible 15 points. The Galaxy meanwhile are 2-2-1 in their last five with their only loss coming to Sporting Kansas City, a team whom MNUFC just beat last weekend.

“Kansas is never easy, but I thought the lads approached the game in exactly the right manner and I think we fully deserved the result,” Adrian Heath said about their result in Kansas City last weekend.

Minnesota may only need a draw to make the playoffs, but the team will be looking to cap the regular season with a huge win. Tyler Miller spoke about how to win this match at the pre-match press conference.

“Discipline. Discipline and fight and resolve and sticking to what we’re good at. When we play as individuals, that’s when we are susceptible, when you try to do too much, that’s when things can kind of go away. But, if we play as a unit, we’re one of the hardest teams to beat.”

The Loons will also need to shut down the Galaxy’s top scorer in Chicharito, who’s scored 15 goals in just 20 appearances for Los Angeles this season. MNUFC is expected to have Tyler Miller in goal once again, Miller currently ranks fourth in the league with 11 clean sheets in just 29 starts this season.

Injury Report:

Minnesota United FC

Ozzie Alonso: Out - Yellow Card accumulation suspension
Justin McMaster: Out - thigh

Los Angeles Galaxy

Séga Coulibaly: Questionable
Jorge Villafaña : Questionable