Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction

Minnesota United at Real Salt Lake

When: 8pm CT Tuesday
Where: US first field, Sandy, Utah
Current: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy, 7 mph south wind
Betting line: Salt Lake minus-105; tie plus-275; MNUFC plus-240

Form: The sixth-seeded Loons went 6-1-1 in their last eight regular season games. Third-seeded RSL went 4-3-1 in the last eight.

History: MNUFC and RSL drew twice in their two matches this season: 0-0 in Utah on October 2 and 1-1 in St. Paul on April 6. Robin Lod assisted Tani Oluwaseyi’s equalizer in the 86th minute.

Quote: Going into the match with RSL, Loons head coach Eric Ramsay didn’t want the idea of it being a “favourable” match to be seen as disrespectful, as every match is tough at this stage, but:

“If you can use the word favorable at this stage of the season, I think it might be as favorable as we could have gotten given that we’ve been there recently. We gave them two very good games. We are in a very good place compared to where we have been over the last year. And maybe they are in a slightly less good place, if you look at the forms table.”

Schedule: The opening round best-of-three series begins Tuesday with Game 1, followed by Game 2 Saturday at 8 p.m. at Allianz Field. Game 3, if necessary, would be in Utah on November 8 at 8 p.m.

Format: If a match is tied at the end of regular time, penalties will be taken immediately to determine a winner. Ramsay has emphasized this possible outcome and has invited front office personnel to practice Monday to put pressure on players who use PKs.

Statistics: All eight clubs that won Game 1s in the 2023 playoffs — the first year of the best-of-three format — won the series. This fact places an even greater burden on Tuesday.

Absences: Zarek Valentin (Achilles tendon) is out for a year.

Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, FW Joaquin Pereyra; FW Kelvin Yeboah, FW Robin Lod; MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Jefferson Diaz, CB Michael Boxall, CB Carlos Harvey, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Scouting report: Although Cristian Arango hasn’t scored in MLS since July 6, the Colombian forward is still active with 14 shots and 1.5 expected goals in the last four games, including 0.6 and four shots against MNUFC on October 2. He was sixth in MLS with 17 goals in 2024.

Prediction: MNUFC was the third most popular club in MLS to finish the regular season. They are healthy and Ramsay has had 10 days to prepare for RSL. The rich vein of form continues. Loons wins 2-1.