This isn’t just another preview. And no, you didn’t accidentally click on the RSL preview from a few weeks ago. IT’S THE PLAYOFFS, BABY! The Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are officially here, and your Loons are taking on the Claret and Cobalt of Real Salt Lake in the First Round. This matchup will be decided in a best-of-three series, meaning that while a win on Tuesday would be ideal, it’s not do-or-die just yet for the Loons. Both of these sides are riding truly scintillating form into the postseason, setting up what promises to be among the most exciting matchups of the First Round.

Minnesota United (15-12-7)

Run of Form: W-W-D-W-W

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Black and Blue, but everything is coming together at the perfect time of year. After grabbing 13 of the last 15 points available to them in the regular season, your Loons are among the hottest teams in MLS. They’ve scored 10 goals in that span, averaging two goals and 2.6 points per match to close out 2024 in style. No one wants to come up against a team that’s playing like this, and I don’t blame them.

Real Salt Lake (16-7-11)

Run of Form: W-W-D-D-D

Only six teams ended the regular season without a loss in their final five games, including your Loons. Guess who else is on that list? Yep, none other than Real Salt Lake. The Claret and Cobalt haven’t been quite as consistently dominant as the Loons across this span, but they’ve found goal contributions from some key players. The likes of Diego Luna and Diogo Goncalves have been catching fire as of late, and with players like Chicho Arango and Anderson Julio still capable of finding form at any moment, it’s going to be tough to keep the home side quiet on Tuesday.

Keys to the Match:

All in the Way You Move

The match against St. Louis was poetry in motion. It was liquid football. It was…glorious. The Loons’ 5-4-1 (or 5-2-3 or 5-3-2, depending on what minute we’re talking about) got the best out of every single player on the pitch, with options seemingly everywhere they looked. In possession, the advanced positioning of Joseph Rosales and Bongokuhle Hlongwane allowed the back three to spread out and press high, creating an overwhelming presence in St. Louis’ half. Hassani Dotson and Wil Trapp were absolutely everywhere, establishing side-to-side movement that allowed one of them to pressure while the other covered the hole in the middle. The discipline to stay in the pocket of space that St. Louis wanted to play through made all the difference, allowing their teammates to take up advantageous positions. Joaquín Pereyra and Robin Lod played freely and effectively, drifting across the field behind Kelvin Yeboah and allowing both Rosales and Hlongwane to get involved through either overlapping, inverting, or just small combinations. In summary, the chemistry on display on Decision Day was next-level, and if the Black and Blue can keep that movement rolling, they could be playing a LOT more soccer this season.

Not How You Start, But How You Finish

The starters were fantastic on Saturday; there’s no doubt about that. But so were the reinforcements that came off the bench, particularly the fresh front three. Franco Fragapane, Sang Bin Jeong, and Tani Oluwaseyi not only brought energy and fresh legs, but a tactical shift that was simply devastating for a tired St. Louis side. The switch from Yeboah to Oluwaseyi made the Loons more direct, as his vertical runs stretch teams out and perfectly set up late-game counterattacks. Add the pace and effort of Sang Bin and the clever passing of Fragapane to the mix, and you’ve got a seriously threatening group running at defenders that were already showing fatigue. The ability to mix and match the attacking profiles on this roster makes the Loons unique and intimidating, and if Tuesday’s game in Utah is as tight as the last match at America First Field, some impact subs might be the difference between going to PKs and grabbing the win outright.

He’s a Crook(s)

Matt Crooks is a problem, plain and simple. The six foot four midfield engine is a classic English Championship player, capable of covering an insane amount of ground across 90 minutes and always prepared to put in a crunching tackle. He’s a bruiser with an ability to connect the field, and with him in the middle of the attacking talent that RSL has at their disposal, he’s the secret sauce that makes this side sweet. He’ll do the dirty work so the creative players can create: the 40-yard defensive run, the last-ditch tackle, the tactical foul to stop the break at midfield. Crooks is experienced and effective, and there’s not a ton the Loons can do to nullify his influence. If he’s on his game, the best thing the Black and Blue can do is play in wide areas to pull him out of position and open space in the middle. As far as defending him goes, Dotson and Trapp need to be careful to not get too distracted by the likes of Luna and Julio. Crooks has got some attacking threat in his legs, and if the Loons don’t respect his skill enough, they might pay the price.