Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake

Allianz Field forms the backdrop for an exciting Major League Soccer match-up between Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake.

Injury-hit Minnesota United pulled off an astonishing 3-2 away win over Los Angeles Galaxy last time out, courtesy of three unanswered first-half goals. After arresting an underwhelming three-match losing MLS streak, the home side are looking to whittle down a three-point gap on the Western Conference playoff zone. Playing at home may not necessarily help that cause, based on Minnesota’s three-game winless MLS streak on home turf (D1, L2). A lack of firepower up top witnessed the ‘Loons’ score just once in those three matches, with both defeats yielding an identical 1-0 scoreline. Against this backdrop, five of Minnesota’s six MLS home meetings with Salt Lake have featured over 2.5 goals.

On the other hand, a scoreless home draw with Columbus Crew last time out made it two consecutive MLS clean sheets for Real Salt Lake (W1, D1). Those matches form part of the visitors’ eye-catching run of four victories from their last six league outings (D1, L1). However, Salt Lake’s dismal away form has seen them pick up just one triumph on their previous seven MLS travels (D2, L4), failing to get on the scoresheet four times in the process. Indeed, only Colorado Rapids (5) have netted fewer away league goals in the Western Conference than the ‘Claret and Cobalt’ (7), who have averaged just 0.77 goals per MLS travel to date.