Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City
Allianz Field – Saint Paul
August 21 – 7:30 PM ET

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

In a rematch of a thrilling MLS is Back group stage match, Minnesota United host Sporting Kansas City in both teams return to the regular season August 21 at Alianz Field.

With a chip permanently embedded on their shoulders, the Loons marched to the MLS is Back semifinals, where they fell to fellow upstart Orlando City SC. A win over Sporting KC to close out the group stage, in which Minnesota United rallied in stoppage time to erase an early one-goal deficit to win 2-1. Peter Vermes' squad had a roller coaster tournament with disappointing defeats to the Loons, in which Tim Melia was sent off on a DOGSO red card, and in the quarterfinals to the Philadelphia Union sandwiched between a wild win over the Colorado Rapids and gritty victories over Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Loons are unbeaten in four all-time home games against SKC. The most recent overall meeting was one of the most memorable in Orlando, with Kevin Molino capping a comeback with a 97th-minute winner against 10-man Sporting.

Minnesota United

Heath wants to take motivation from underdog status, but that's changing quickly in 2020. The Loons' impressive run in Orlando was done without MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara and with Molino missing time to injury. One of four unbeaten squads, Minnesota United are continuing where they left off a year ago when they made the postseason for the first time.

A solid defensive core got even stronger with the addition of Bakaye Dibassy and, if rumors are to be believed, the squad are close to signing Boca Juniors’ attacking midfielder Emanuel Reynoso. However, Opara is not available for "the next couple of games," according to Heath and Tyler Miller had season-ending hip surgery

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Tyler Miller (GK) - hip surgery
- OUT: Ike Opara (D) - undisclosed
- QUESTIONABLE: Jacori Hayes (M) - left hamstring injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Sporting Kansas City

While Minnesota United are hoping to make a splash in the transfer market and sign an important attacking piece, Sporting already been there, done that with the addition of Alan Pulido. The Mexican international has three goals and four assists in five regular season games and has played a part in 50 percent of his new team's goals, including the MLS is Back tournament.

While Minnesota United have gotten a lot of the pub of late, Sporting actually top the West with 12 points, one more than the "underdog" Loons with four wins in five contests. Of course, that one defeat came to Heath's squad.