Match Preview: Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake

How to Watch

  • In person: TCF Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota
  • TV: My29
  • Radio: ESPN 1500
  • Streaming: MLS Live (blacked out locally)

What to Look For

“We gave ourselves a mountain, again, to climb at the weekend.” Truer words could not have been spoken by Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath discussing last week’s 5-2 loss against the New England Revolution.

The club is 0-3-1 in their short tenure in MLS but what the top line standings won’t show you is the brutal and humiliating fashion in which those three losses came.

“I feel as though I’m like a broken record, I keep going over and over it. We’ve got to stay in games and get ourselves a foothold in the game,” Heath said. “And even Saturday again, we got it to 4-2 and you know the next goal’s going to be crucial and we give a penalty away. We don’t give ourselves an opportunity.”

This has been an Achilles heel for the Loons during this early stint in the season. After a promising display of explosiveness and speed, the squad will lag behind an opponent that is outclassing them in every phase of the game. Not great but at least there is hope. Then, often within minutes, a counter attack will rocket past the midfield, cause chaos in the defensive wings and finally rally in toward the box before scoring. It’s a heartbreaking thing to watch, to say the least.

What United need to do more than anything is find a way to slow the first 15-20 minutes of the game down. Take control, hold the ball and focus on surgical strikes up the lanes to support Johan Venegas and Christian Ramirez. The first 15 minutes have been lethal for the club who have never made it more than that time without giving up at least one goal.

On the other side of the ball, a recent coaching change in Salt Lake may play into United’s benefit as they challenge in front of a friendly home crowd.

“Obviously, they’ve had the disappointment of changing the coach but they looked as though they had a lot of spirit,” said Heath. “We watched the game at the weekend against the Red Bulls — which is very, very difficult at the Red Bull Arena — and they gave a good account of themselves. They put some of their younger guys in. It will be interesting to see what their lineup is because they’ll have a few players back from international duty and maybe Beckerman will be back from suspension. It’s a big opportunity for us at home.”

Indeed, it will be. As a nascent expansion side looking to solidify a larger local base of support in addition to the steadfast love of fans from its NASL days, United will want to start notching wins as soon as possible and preferably at home.

Key Players

Brent Kallman remains at the top of many lists as he looks to return to the starting XI as an anchor for the beleaguered backline. After becoming the first Minnesota native to score a goal for the club in MLS, Kallman will be a welcome piece of stability to carry the team into the contest against RSL.

“I think Brent epitomizes what we’re trying to look for,” said Heath. “He plays every game at his maximum. He’s had a couple of games and he’s been outstanding. He’s holding his position down on merit — there’s no sentiment here. I want the best players to play and Brent’s played excellent his first two games. The secret is, can he keep that level of performance and keep that intensity in his game? And if he does, he’s got a bright future.”

“I think Brent epitomizes what we’re trying to look for.”

Ibson. This is not a name you may expect to see on a list of key players but as you’ll see below, I have Ibson in the starting XI, as optimistic as that may be. While I think Ibson will likely remain an impact sub that will help change the tempo of the second half, if he does earn a starting position, I want to see Ibson keep pace and not get battered by early match physicality.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United

  • OUT: M – Bernardo Anor (left lower leg injury)
  • OUT: GK – John Alvbage (left knee injury)
  • OUT: GK – Patrick McLain (concussion)
  • OUT: D – Joseph Greenspan (concussion)

Real Salt Lake

  • OUT: F – Chad Barrett (knee injury)
  • QUESTIONABLE: F – Joao Plata (hip contusion)
  • QUESTIONABLE: M – Jordan Allen (right quad strain)
  • QUESTIONABLE: D – Justen Glad (knee injury)
  • QUESTIONABLE: D – David Horst (knee injury)
  • QUESTIONABLE: D – Tony Beltran (back injury)

Predicted Line-Up

  • Formation: 3-5-2
  • GK: Shuttleworth
  • DEF: Calvo, Kallman, Thiesson
  • MID: Ibarra, Ibson, Demidov, Warner, Kadrii
  • FW: Venegas, Ramirez

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