We’re firmly into crunch time at this point, folks. Only five games remain in the 2026 MLS Regular Season, and every point feels like it’s worth double these days. For those teams still chasing the postseason — like your Loons — every game from here on out is approaching must-win territory. Meanwhile, visitors St. Louis CITY will be hoping to keep their unbeaten streak alive, with a focus on maintaining rather than procuring good form. It’s a showdown between teams at opposite ends of the table, but nonetheless crucial in the grand scheme of the season.
Minnesota United (7-12-10)
Run of Form: D-D-L-L-L
Two consecutive draws have seen your Loons take a pair of steps in the right direction, but not quite as firmly as they hoped. An injury to playmaker Joaquín Pereyra has forced the team to adapt, and recently, those adaptations have produced some fruit. The hosts won’t be walking into this one at the top of their game, but they should be carrying a growing sense of confidence after establishing themselves as a legitimate scoring threat and earning a couple results against teams that look likely to be in the postseason (Colorado, Houston).
St. Louis CITY SC (14-6-9)
Run of Form: D-W-W-W-W
As far as form is concerned, it doesn’t get much better than St. Louis right now. Sure, they’ve had a few draws sprinkled in on their impressive run, but with 16 goals across their last five games, CITY is in the middle of making a statement to the league. A 6-2 win over the Galaxy saw them cap off a four-game streak of scoring at least three times in each game, and a 0-0 draw against Vancouver showed that they belong at the top of the table as much as anyone. A juggernaut is coming to Allianz Field this weekend, no question about it.
Keys to the Match:
An Oldy but a Goody
After breaking a five game losing streak, your Loons have earned two points between their last two games. While not necessarily the marked improvement they were hoping for, it’s progress nevertheless, and it’s involved a slight tactical shift. Toward the end of the Houston match, the Black and Blue shifted formations after subbing in Marcus Caldeira, utilizing two banks of four behind the striking pair of Caldeira and Kelvin Yeboah. This formation shift carried over into the last outing against Colorado, as the combination of Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Cherrion Valerius on the right side of the pitch has seemingly unlocked the best of Bongi once again. While elements of the five-man backline that has dominated the Loons’ teamsheets this season still remain, there’s been a steady shift in execution, approach, and personnel all season long, and it’s led to a shape resembling what many players learn as one of their first formations: a 4-4-2. With Caldeira and Yeboah scoring so much, the double pivot in the midfield already proving that they can handle the space with two, and Joaquín Pereyra’s time out due to injury, this shape puts the creative onus on the wide players while stacking the finishing department, allowing the Loons to play with a more defined structure and a clearer understanding of how goals should be scored.
Historically Hot
When your Loons played St. Louis a few weeks ago, CITY was riding an exciting unbeaten streak, and talk of records had begun to swirl. Now, after going 21 league games in a row without a loss, Damet’s side have officially put together the most impressive unbeaten run in league history, and they don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. With comeback wins, hard-fought draws, and every other which way of earning points under their belt, this club has completely transformed since their early days under new management. After earning just six points from their first 10 games of the regular season, they’ve found another few gears, racking up 45 points from the following 19. That’s an uptick from 0.6 points per game to more than 2.3 ppg, a rate that’s put STL just one point behind Vancouver for the top spot in the Western Conference with just five games to go. What does this mean for your Loons? Well, it means this won’t be an easy game, and it means that they can’t afford to take their foot off the gas for even a moment. Last time out, the Boys in Black and Blue took an early lead in St. Louis, only to fall 4-2 at the final whistle. This time, a shift in formation (aforementioned 4-4-2) and approach (Bongi and Valerius tearing up the flank) may make for a tighter game, and while that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a better result, it certainly promises a different pace and texture for this matchup. The last thing you want to do when you’re playing a team in this kind of form is give them a chance to establish a rhythm, meaning even predictable possession in the wide areas of the pitch could be a saving grace for the hosts this weekend. Keep the ball, work the flanks, and play simple. St. Louis may not have lost in the last 21 games, but the first team to ever beat them in this league was none other than MNUFC. Who’s to say it won’t happen again?
Raising the Standard
In a season that has largely failed to meet the standards the club has already set, there have been some bright spots. Kelvin Yeboah surpassed the club’s single-season scoring record against Houston, notching his 15th goal of the season to eclipse Christian Ramirez’s previous record of 14 goals in MNUFC’s inaugural MLS season in 2017. He followed that record-breaking day by adding to his new standard-setter, and with five games remaining, he looks set to continue to extend his lead. His eight goals in the last nine games puts him among the league’s most productive attackers across the final third of the season, standing out as the greatest reason for the Loons to have hope of sneaking their way into the playoffs. His 16 goals account for more than a third of his side’s 44 goals in league play this season, and his uptick in production signals a very clear shift in identity for a club that had previously prided itself on defensive solidity and disciplined shape. His form is at least as hot as St. Louis’ unbeaten streak, and after converting a PK against CITY in last month’s match, he’s already smelled blood against this particular opponent. If the Loons are going to get the three points they need out of this one, they’ll need their leading scorer to be active and sharp for 90 minutes. Pairing him with Caldeira allows him to ride the backline, making runs behind and generally pestering and moving the opposition while his partner links up with the rest of the team. It’s a one-two punch that works wonders, and it’s going to have to work again this weekend if the Loons hope to take down the league’s most in-form side.
