Carry on, my wayward Loons fans, and don’t you cry no more; we’re headed to Kansas to visit the second-most well-known Kansas City in the USA. Call it a rivalry match if you’d like, or consider them just another opponent. That might get under their skin a little more, actually. MNUFC is set to face off against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, and it’s going to be an absolutely crucial match for both teams as they look to nail down a spot in the postseason.
Minnesota United - (11-12-6)
Run of Form: L-W-W-L-W (All Competitions)
Though the return from Leagues Cup has been rather choppy from a schedule standpoint, the Loons have managed to integrate new signings and pick up the points that they’re expected to get. Wins against St. Louis and San Jose right out of the gate showed that MNUFC is a step above the bottom of the West, while a narrow loss to Cincinnati last time out proved that the upper echelons of the league aren’t totally out of reach. With five games remaining and some encouraging signs from Kelvin Yeboah and Bongokuhle Hlongwane up top, the Loons need to believe that anything is possible, because in a league as chaotic as Major League Soccer, that sentiment is always true. If Eric Ramsay can find the right mixture of players to slot into his starting lineup and give them a few games to gel, there’s no reason to think the Loons can’t make a playoff run. The hardest part of the postseason is often getting there; three points this weekend would be pivotal in that pursuit.
Sporting Kansas City - (8-15-7)
Run of Form: W-L-D-W-W (All Competitions)
SKC have not had the kind of year that they might have expected. However, after a fairly disappointing 2023 saw them sneak into the playoffs and pick off St. Louis in the first round, they’ll be hoping that a repeat is on the cards. Their last few matches have been a bit all over the place, with a surprising 4-1 win over Colorado in stark contrast to their 2-0 loss to Seattle just one game prior. They’ve been fantastic at home, shaky on the road, and prone to disciplinary issues, picking up red cards against both the Red Bulls and Orlando. This isn’t the time of year that you want to come up against SKC at Children’s Mercy Park, but the Loons might be in luck. Kansas City has a U.S. Open Cup Final to worry about coming up midweek, so we might see a rotated squad, depending on where Peter Vermes is placing his priorities at this point in the season.
Keys to the Match:
Heat Check
SKC have scored 10 goals in their last five games, averaging two strikes a game and being held scoreless just once in that span. Alan Pulido has scored three goals in his last three games, Erik Thommy is likewise fresh off a brace against Colorado, and Rémi Walter has been getting involved in the scoring exploits as well with goals and assists of his own. Peter Vermes’ team may have struggled at different points this year, but they’ve found that patented SKC late-season push that is beginning to feel inevitable at this point. Sure, they’re vulnerable and fallible in ways that will probably keep them from MLS Cup, but the value of getting hot at the right time in this league can’t be overstated. If the Loons want to slow down the runaway train, they’re going to have to establish themselves early in this match, whether that comes in the form of an early goal or sustained possession. One way or another, they can’t let this efficient offense start firing.
Adjusting the Recipe
The Loons have had a different starting lineup in every single match since returning from Leagues Cup, with three different formations to boot. Coach Ramsay doesn’t have much time left in the season to find his ideal lineup, and between fitting new players in and trying to find the right formation to get the most out of this group, he’s got his hands full. The more changes the coaching staff makes, the fewer opportunities the team will have to develop any consistency before the postseason. On the other hand, it’s good to make changes and see what might work better. As soon as we settle, we stop improving, or something like that. Are we going away from wingbacks, or are we doubling down? Are we playing with two forwards, or are we giving Yeboah space to roam? There are still some questions that need to be clarified, and at this point in the season, the faster those answers come, the better.
A Chance to Spoil the Season
A win for the Loons on Saturday wouldn’t secure their postseason spot, but it would make things a whole lot easier. On the other hand, a loss for Vermes and company would be far more decisive. SKC is currently on 31 points, while the Loons are locking down ninth place with 39. An MNUFC win would put the playoff bar up to 42 points, meaning that SKC would be 11 points back with just three more games in their season. That means it’s do-or-die for the home team this weekend, and after they played a role in keeping the Loons out of the 2023 playoffs, it would be something like poetic justice for the Black and Blue to keep their rivals out of the postseason. SKC is going to have to be near-perfect from here on out if they want to sneak into the postseason, and when a team is backed into a corner like this, it’s hard to tell how they’ll play.
