Minnesota United will look to strengthen their position in the Western Conference on Saturday evening when they play host to out-of-form San Jose Earthquakes.
While the home side have put together a lengthy unbeaten streak in the MLS, the visitors have lost five of their last six fixtures.
Match preview
After a slow start to the season, Minnesota already find themselves 11 points adrift of Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders.
Nevertheless, Adrian Heath's side are now unbeaten in six matches, their latest victory coming at the weekend as they edged out Portland Timbers on away territory.
Scoring goals remains a problem for Minnesota with just seven strikes being recorded during the current period, but four clean sheets have kept the team heading in the right direction.
Adrien Hunou and Franco Fragapane have stepped up in the absence of Robin Lod, scoring two goals apiece while their teammate has been representing Finland at Euro 2020.
Although the playmaker is expected to remain absent for this game, Heath will have complete belief in a group of players who will feel that they should be placed higher than their current fifth position.
In sharp contrast, Earthquakes boss Matias Almeyda has increasing concerns about the development of his own squad after their dismal run of results.
Their only point in seven matches came from the fixture against lowly Austin FC with just two goals coming in the other six contests.
Cade Cowell ended a seven-game drought in the 3-1 defeat against Los Angeles Galaxy, but the 17-year-old only found the back of the net once the match was already over as a contest.
The Earthquakes now face three successive away games against teams in the top five, a sequence of fixtures which could make or break whether Almeyda remains in the dugout.
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- L
Team News
Heath is unlikely to make major alterations to his Minnesota XI after they held on to a 1-0 lead against the Timbers for 88 minutes.
Ethan Finlay is an alternative on the right-hand side of midfield, but Lod, Jan Gregus and Jukka Raitala will only be named on the substitutes' bench at best.
Cowell is in line to return to the Earthquakes starting lineup, potentially taking the place of Chris Wondolowski.
Andres Rios produced a lively cameo during the latter stages against Galaxy, putting him in contention to get the nod over Judson.
Marcos Lopez remains unavailable as he continues to represent Peru at the Copa America.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Metanire, Boxall, Dibassy, Gasper; Finlay, Trapp, Dotson, Fragapane; Hunou, Reynoso
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Marie, Jungwirth, Alanis, Salinas; Lopez, Rios, Remedi, Yueill, Espinoza; Cowell
We say: Minnesota United 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
With these two sides heading in opposite directions, we can only predict one result. While the Earthquakes will eventually have to improve at both ends of the pitch, they may line up more defensively here, restricting their hosts to a two-goal win.
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