Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction – Twin Cities

Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids

When: 19:30 Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Flow: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500
Times: 77 degrees, south wind at 5 mph
Betting line: MNUFC minus-110; shoot plus-280; Colorado plus-240

Form: Minnesota (12-12-6, 42 points) won its first regular season game in Kansas City since joining MLS in 2017, 2-0 last Saturday. The Loons have won three of their last four. Colorado (15-10-5, 50 points) made it four of five with a 2-0 win over Toronto on Saturday.

History: The Loons and Rapids played to a 3–3 tie on May 25, with Colorado scoring twice in the second half to break the tie. Kevin Cabral and Sang Bin Jeong each scored twice.

Quote: “That’s the big elephant in the room: We’ve got to win a home game between now and the end of the year if we’re really going to make a mark,” head coach Eric Ramsay said of a subpar 5-6-4 record at St. Paul this season.

Look around: Ninth-seeded Minnesota is two points behind ninth-seeded Portland, which plays seven-seeded Vancouver. If the two clubs draw and the Loons win, MNUFC and the Timbers are tied on points with three games to go.

Absences: Teemu Pukki (adductor), DJ Taylor (hamstring) Zarek Valentin (lower leg) are ruled out. Jefferson Diaz (adductor) is available to play. Pukki will be on the shelf during the international break, meaning he will miss two games next week as well. Taylor is expected to be available next week.

Designed XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah, FW Tani Oluwaseyi; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Wil Trapp, MF Hassani Dotson; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Díaz, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Condition: Kelvin Yeboah is averaging 0.41 goals minus shootouts per 90 minutes this season and 1.08 total goals per 90 minutes this year. He has three from the PK spot and two from open play for a total of five in five games.

Research Report: Cabral and Cole Bassett — 14 goals combined — are injured, but Rafael Navarro and Djordje Mihalovic — 25 goals combined — are available to play. Navarro also scored in May’s six-goal draw with MNUFC. He is the main danger man.

Prediction: Minnesota has been on the rise since MLS play resumed in late August, but the Loons have been unable to consistently beat the teams ahead of them in the table. That changes with a statement win on Saturday. Loons win 2-1.