MATCH PREVIEW: 3 Keys to Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake

After back-to-back drummings at the hands of Sporting KC, Minnesota United are on the hunt for redemption as they travel to Salt Lake City tonight.

RSL is a timely opponent for the embattled Loons as the fellow Western Conference team is tied with United for total points this season (14) and rests just one place out of the gutter, sitting ahead of only the Colorado Rapids who have the worst record in either conference.

While Sporting KC was an unusually stiff challenge (they sit atop the West and third overall in MLS), don’t count Real Salt Lake out just yet.

Here are three keys to tonight’s matchup.

Can the Loons win on the road?

While everyone can disagree with how United have performed thus far in their inaugural MLS campaign, it’s difficult to argue at least one fact: the Loons have yet to notch a single victory on the road.

From the dark days early in the year to the heights of winning four games at home, the season has been quite the rollercoaster … and we’re not even halfway through it. With plenty of soccer left in the MLS regular season, the single biggest deficiency in the Loons notebook has to be performances on the road.

Sure, there have been a few relatively bright spots. Slamming home two goals on the road in Colorado against MLS legend Tim Howard was a highlight, no doubt about it.

Then again, that same Colorado match took a drastic turn from a coveted road win to a frustrating tie when the Loons gave up two goals to end 2-2.

I remember picking my jaw up off the floor at the end of that match as we were sent packing with a mere point instead of the three I was sure we’d be able to secure. Not a total disaster, to be sure.

Not a total disaster, to be sure. But not our finest moment, either.

It’s time to quiet the doubters once again and mark a decisive road victory against RSL head coach Mike Petke and his squad.

Which defense will show up?

This season has been a tale of two defensive units in Minnesota. The first quarter of the year was dominated by downright embarrassing showings from a squad that didn’t look like they knew they were supposed to get between the ball and their own net.

While the second quarter has seen a much improved back four comprised of Burch, Calvo, Kallman, and Thiesson, the best you might say is that they aren’t the disaster they used to be.We’ve had some

The addition of Marc Burch, in particular, allowed the team to move Jerome Taylor to the bench and relegate Vadim Demidov to the very bottom of the depth chart.

While I don’t think our defensive track record is so sterling that we can assume a clean sheet is in the offing tonight, I do think our recent run shows a unit that is developing cohesion around the consistently stout play of Brent Kallman and savvy leadership from Francisco Calvo.

In other words, there is reason to be optimistic, Loons fans. If the defense can wash away the painful memories of two beatings at the hands of Dom Dwyer and co. in Kansas City and get back to their pre-SKC form, we could be in for quite a treat tonight.

Can the Loons capitalize early?

Real Salt Lake have one of the worst defensive units in MLS right now. They’ve conceded more goals (35) than any other team. Not only that, but they have conceded so many and netted so few that their goal differential has actually surpassed Minnesota United’s, a stat that has haunted the Loons since they let in a record number of goals over the first five weeks of the season.

This is a huge opportunity.

The Loons tend to perform best when they give themselves a bit of breathing room early. It’s obviously easier to say than to do, but look for United to press Petke’s squad for an early error.

Ultimately, the success or failure of a “take an early lead and hold it” approach falls in large part on Christian Ramirez. The 26-year-old has more than silenced his critics this year with eight goals and an assist in 14 games played.

There have been a number of occasions where a well-placed ball from Kevin Molino or Miguel Ibarra ends up drifting out of play after Ramirez failed to connect and slot the ball in. Strikers play in an incredibly demanding position where much of their success or failure comes down to their actions in a few key seconds of play.

Andy Lorei made that same point earlier this season on the Zone Coverage podcast, and I think the point is more relevant than ever. United got a heck of a bargain in Christian Ramirez.

United got a heck of a bargain in Christian Ramirez. He is a non-DP striker that is earning his pay with a great attitude to boot. I was cautiously optimistic of his transition early in the year but lacked the vision to see what a strong presence he had the potential to be up top.

With eight goals already in the bag, Ramirez could very well end up with north of 15 goals by season’s end. Heck, he could approach 20, if his wingers continue to produce.

Look to Ramirez (and possibly rookie forward Abu Dunladi) to be the tip of the spear tonight. If service is good and Ramirez turns on the burners, an early lead could easily develop into a comfortable win, and a win on the road at that.

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