MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. REAL SALT LAKE
TCF Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, Minnesota
04.01.17 | MLS Week #5 | MLS Game #5
7:00 p.m. CT (My29, MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

2017 Records:
MIN: 0-3-1; 0-1-0 at home
RSL: 0-2-2; 0-1-1 on the road

Minnesota United returns to the Twin Cities for its second home match of the season following a loss in New England as they face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 1 at TCF Bank Stadium. The forecast of partly sunny weather and a high of 56° will be quite a departure from their snowy home opener as the Loons look to bounce back from a rocky outing against the Revolution. Catch pre-match coverage on My29 and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match follows with kickoff at 7:00 pm and post-match coverage afterwards.

Missing nine players due to a variety of circumstances including international call-ups, injuries and suspensions, a depleted Minnesota United struggled to match the Revolution’s blistering attack this past weekend, conceding early and failing to build up attacking play. Once again, MNUFC goals were followed by opposing goals in short order and the Loons walked away with a 5-2 defeat.

“We gave ourselves a mountain again to climb at the weekend,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “I feel as though I'm like a broken record, I keep going over and over it. We've got to stay in games and get ourselves a foothold in the game. And even Saturday again, we got it to 4-2 and you know the next goal's going to be crucial and we give a penalty away. We don't give ourselves an opportunity.”

The lineup that takes the field Saturday will be much different, though, with the return of defender Francisco Calvo and midfielders Rasmus Schuller, Kevin Molino and Johan Venegas from World Cup qualifying play and defender Justin Davis from suspension. They’ll face an RSL side that’s gone through its own upheavals recently, including the ouster of Head Coach Jeff Cassar following an 0-2-1 start and the introduction of new head coach Mike Petke this week.

“Obviously, they've had the disappointment of changing the coach, but they looked as though they had a lot of spirit,” said Heath. “We watched the game at the weekend against the Red Bulls — which is very, very difficult at the Red Bull Arena — and they gave a good account of themselves. They put some of their younger guys in. It will be interesting to see what they're lineup is because they'll have a few players back from international duty and maybe Beckerman will be back from suspension. It's a big opportunity for us at home. I don't want to use the snow as an excuse for the first game, but I think it'll be nice to have our supporters see us on a decent field without the elements that we had. You always know that ‘round the corner, there's another opportunity.”

One of the bright spots for MNUFC in the early going has been the play of defender Brent Kallman. When he joined the club in their NASL days after a successful college career at Creighton, he played in just one match his rookie season but eventually became an integral part of the Loons’ back line. Since starting for Minnesota United against the Colorado Rapids in Week 3, he’s been named to the MLS Team of the Week, scored a goal and acquitted himself well overall.

“I think Brent epitomizes what we're trying to look for,” said Heath. “He plays every game at his maximum. He's had a couple of games and he's been outstanding. He's holding his position down on merit — there's no sentiment here. I want the best players to play and Brent's played excellent his first two games. The secret is, can he keep that level of performance and keep that intensity in his game? And if he does, he's got a bright future.”

Following the match, Minnesota United heads back out on the road to face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. The match will be broadcast on My29 and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

INJURY REPORT

Minnesota United
OUT: M - Bernardo Anor (left lower leg injury)
OUT: GK - John Alvbage (left knee injury)
OUT: GK - Patrick McLain (concussion)
OUT: D - Joseph Greenspan (concussion)

Real Salt Lake
OUT: F - Chad Barrett (knee injury)
QUESTIONABLE: F - Joao Plata (hip contusion)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Jordan Allen (right quad strain) 
QUESTIONABLE: D - Justen Glad (knee injury)
QUESTIONABLE: D - David Horst (knee injury)
QUESTIONABLE: D - Tony Beltran (back injury)

DISCIPLINARY REPORT
none
FIRST TOUCHES

• Luke Mulholland and Matt Van Oekel both played for Minnesota United in the NASL era of the club’s history.
• Collen Warner began his career with RSL after being drafted 15th overall by the club in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
• Chris Schuler and Brent Kallman played for Creighton University and were teammates in 2009.
• Minnesota last played RSL in the 2012 edition of the U.S. Open Cup. Minnesota dispatched the Claret-and-Cobalt by a 3-1 margin at Rio Tinto Stadium to move on in the tournament.
• RSL’s Nick Rimando is the all-time MLS leader in shutouts with 130 in 427 appearances — also an MLS record — during his 17-year career.
• Kyle Beckerman is the all-time appearance leader for field players in MLS history, suiting up 409 times for RSL, Colorado Rapids and the Miami Fusion. Beckerman also has eight All-Star Game appearances, including six consecutive appearances from 2009 to 2014.
• Brent Kallman became the first Minnesota native and first defender to score a goal for the Loons.
• RSL will have two players returning from international duty. Albert Rusnak (Slovakia) came on as a late sub during a 3-1 victory over Malta. Nick Rimando (USA) was on the bench for the Yanks in a pair of World Cup qualifying matches but did not make an appearance.
• Both teams will see players return from suspension. Minnesota’s Justin Davis and RSL’s Kyle Beckerman were ejected from their team’s Week 3 matches.
• Minnesota and Real Salt Lake are among six teams searching for their first win of the season.
• RSL has made the playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons.