Minnesota United will look to bounce back from their recent setback as they host St Louis City at Allianz Field on Sunday. Following a disappointing defeat to Houston Dynamo, Minnesota is eager to regain momentum and solidify their position in the Western Conference standings.
The Loons had been enjoying a strong run, unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 matches prior to the loss against Houston, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat. This result deprived them of the chance to move closer to the top of the standings, leaving them in third place with 22 points after 13 matches—three points behind last season’s performance at the same stage.
Minnesota’s goalscoring struggles were notable in their last encounter, marking only their fourth scoreless game in the past 18 matches, which came as a surprise considering they scored four goals against Inter Miami just days prior. As they prepare to meet St Louis City, they will aim to leverage their strong historical performance against this rival, having won three of the last four encounters.
Meanwhile, St Louis City is desperate to secure their first league victory in ten matches after a disappointing start to their campaign. Once showing promise with eight points from their first four games and four consecutive clean sheets, the team has since fallen into a challenging streak, currently enduring a nine-match winless run in the league. Their last game ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with their inability to hold onto a lead continuing to haunt them.
Despite the struggles, St Louis head coach Olof Mellberg maintains a positive atmosphere within the squad, emphasizing the need for a strong performance on the road. With only seven goals scored and 16 conceded since late March, the team faces challenges at both ends of the pitch as they seek to revitalize their season.
In terms of team news, Minnesota will be without Joseph Rosales due to suspension, along with injured players Anthony Markanich and Kipp Keller. St Louis City will also be missing several key players, including Rasmus Alm and Tomas Totland.
Predictably, experts favor Minnesota United to edge out St Louis City with a predicted scoreline of 3-1, leveraging both their recent form and home advantage.
In light of the upcoming match, it is important for both teams to focus on capitalizing on scoring opportunities and tightening their defenses. Fans look forward to an exciting encounter as Minnesota looks to reclaim their dominance and St Louis aims for redemption.