Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake | 2020 MLS Match Preview

MIN-RSL Week 10 09-06-2020

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 10
Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake
Allianz Field – Saint Paul
September 6 – 8:00 PM ET


STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada


LOCAL TV: FOX Sports North, KMYU


A Minnesota United team that has leaked eight goals in three consecutive defeats host a Real Salt Lake squad that has scored 10 goals in three matches without defeat Sunday night at Allianz Field.


The Loons are coming off a 3-0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo Wednesday night at BBVA Stadium, while Real Salt Lake rallied to earn a 2-2 home draw against the Seattle Sounders.


This is the second meeting between the teams this year. They played to a 0-0 draw at the MLS is Back Tournament in July. 


Minnesota United


After marching to the MLS is Back semifinals, the Loons have been pedestrian in their restart of the 2020 season with three consecutive defeats, including a 3-0 loss in Houston where Darwin Quintero scored in his first meeting against his former squad. For Adrian Heath, the math is simple. 


"We concede eight goals every three games, we aren’t winning many," he said after the match. "Trust me. You’ve been following football long enough and I’ve been in it a long time, trust me, you concede eight goals in three games, you ain’t winning too any of them."


A positive for Heath was the Minnesota United debut of Bebeto Reynoso, whose signing was announced the day prior. In his first game since March, the former Boca Juniors midfielder played 19 minutes off the bench. 

Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Tyler Miller (GK) - hip injury
    • OUT: Ike Opara (D) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: Aaron Schoenfeld (F) - undisclosed injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


Real Salt Lake


For a second straight game, Real Salt Lake rallied late to salvage a draw, sharing the points with the Sounders in a spirited 2-2 tie Wednesday night at the RioT. Pablo Ruiz scored the stunning equalizer five minutes from full time. It's RSL's second consecutive draw after they scored twice at the death to earn a 4-4 draw at Portland on Saturday.


"He got a great first touch," RSL coach Freddy Juarez said of Ruiz. "His prep touch was everything and then when he released it and I just turned around like ‘oh my gosh, what a goal.’ We just gave him the game ball for his first professional goal with us. Great goal. It was a good game against a very good opponent, but when you score some good goals like the one, he scored there it makes it even more special.”

Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Douglas Martinez (F) - concussion
    • OUT: Christopher Garcia (M) - undisclosed injury
    • UNAVAILABLE: Nedum Onuoha (D)
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


Series Matchup at Minnesota United


  • Minnesota United: 3 wins, 10 goals
  • Real Salt Lake: 0 wins, 5 goals
  • 0 draws


Officials


  • Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
  • Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Ian McKay
  • 4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
  • VAR: Sorin Stoica