Minnesota United FC can take a big step towards their third consecutive playoff run when they host the Colorado Rapids on Sunday afternoon in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Minnesota (10-9-8, 38 points) entered the weekend by narrowly grabbing seventh and last place in the Western Conference playoffs, but could overtake both LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake (39 points each) with a win while the Most MLS teams take off for the October FIFA international window.
The Loons are undefeated in their last three home games and received good news from the league disciplinary committee earlier this week when they overturned Emanuel Reynoso’s suspension.
But Minnesota are still without five international calls, including top scorer and Finland winger Robin Lod (seven goals).
Manager Adrian Heath finds no funny excuses.
“We are fully aware of what would have happened a few weeks ago when we received the invitation letters from the associations,” Heath told reporters this week. “We knew who was leaving. That’s what it is. Come on next man. Come on.”
Colorado (13-5-9, 48 points) has won the previous two home games this season, and comes in third with a personal situation similar to that of his opponent.
Midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Mark-Anthony Kaye are the most prominent of the Rapids’ three international absences.
Defender Lucas Esteves has also seen his red card ban lifted from the league and is available. And injured goalkeeper William Yarbrough is moot after losing last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders.
That humiliating defeat opened a streak of three straight away trips for the Rapids in third place as they approach a 50-point threshold that typically guarantees a playoff spot.
Manager Robin Fraser insists there won’t be a repeat in Minnesota, even with his squad understaffed.
“We’ve already gone through a number of things and certainly expect it to be a little more cohesive this week,” Fraser said. “We’ve actually missed those guys several times this year. We really feel that it’s as usual for us.”
– Field-level support
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