MNUFC vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minnesota
07.03.2022 | MLS Week No. 18 | MLS Game No. 18
7:00 p.m. CT (MLS Live on ESPN+, Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW - Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)

In a late-night matchup for the Loons, a lot happened in a short amount of time. Before the end of the first half, Kervin Arriaga was taken off the field on a stretcher, three beautiful goals were scored by the Loons and LA's Kevin Cabral received a red. In the second half, Minnesota was able to limit LA to two goals, giving MNUFC a crucial set of three points on the road. Next up, the Loons will finally return to St. Paul for their first game at Allianz Field since facing 2. Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 on June 11. For their homecoming game, MNUFC will be taking on Real Salt Lake, in a tilt that has historically favored the Loons (4-2-5). Despite Minnesota's lifetime edge over Utah, the 2022 season has been a successful one for RSL with the team currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference with 29 points to their name. Historical context and stats aside, with the Loons finally back home and coming off of an exciting road win, they are prime for an electric showing on Sunday night. MORE

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN - REAL SALT LAKE

Real Salt Lake may be pushing through multiple key-player injuries, but that hasn’t stopped their success on the season. If anything, it seems to fuel their competitive fire. RSL struggles to finish up-top and such a low goal differential shows they are able to be scored on as well. However, they have a solid defense and it will take the offensive tenacity that Minnesota United showcased last game, to really break through to the goal. MORE

ADRIAN HEATH ON THE CHALLENGE FACING REAL SALT LAKE...

“Since Pablo Mastreoni\] took over they have done particularly well. They are a very, very solid MLS outfit. They are like Colorado last year. They have started well and they have kept that momentum going. The games against them are always very tight. I don’t expect anything different, especially with the few injury situations we are dealing with. I’m always glad to get back home. I know this year has been a bit challenging for us. At home we are more than a match for anybody.” **_[MORE_**

DJ TAYLOR ON LETTING SHOTS FLY MORE OFTEN WHEN IN SCORING POSITION...

“I think a lot of times in our attack, we’re getting into the box, but we’re not being decisive in the box or right outside the box. A lot of guys try to make an extra pass instead of shooting. A prime example is Rey Emanuel Reynoso\]. I think coach has been going on about shooting outside the box and finally you see he does it and it’s a golazo. We just need to work on being killer mentality in those moments.” **_[MORE_**

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

• SPREAD THE WEALTH: When looking to stop a Salt Lake team whose 20 goals this season parallel Minnesota’s 20 goals, it isn’t quite as simple as shutting just one figurehead player down. Of the eight outfield players who have started the most games and played the most minutes for Salt Lake this season, each and every one has scored at least one goal. Bobby Wood, Sergio Córdova and Justen Glad are tied for the team lead with three goals each, and there are still more goals further down. In total, the Utah team’s 20 goals this season have come from 11 different scorers. For comparison, Minnesota’s 20 goals have come from nine different scorers, but a whopping 14 of the 20 are from just three players: Robin Lod (6), Emanuel Reynoso (5) and Luis Amarilla (3). The Loons will have to organize well to stop the full-team attack of Real Salt Lake. MORE

FIRST TOUCHES

• The Loons rose to 10th in the Western Conference with the victory, trailing ninth-placed Houston by a single point of goal difference (and single goal scored).
• Salt Lake, whose last match was a 0-0 draw with Columbus last Saturday, dropped to third in the West after Austin’s Thursday evening victory.
• Zac MacMath and Dayne St. Clair are tied for the league lead with 60 saves each and both St. Clair and MacMath played their college soccer at the University of Maryland.
• Wil Trapp and Justin Meram played together at Columbus Crew from 2013-2017, as did Niko Hansen in 2017. MORE