Minnesota United take on last year's Supporters Shield winners FC Cincinnati in Wednesday night's gameweek 32 MLS match at Allianz Field, keen to maintain their playoff hopes.
The Western Conference side occupy ninth spot in their division and aim for another positive result against the second-placed team in the Eastern to make a late play for a guaranteed playoff place.
Match preview
Despite a broadly underwhelming season, Minnesota have notched three wins in their last four to push into ninth spot and sit five points off a coveted top-seven place.
The ongoing sequence follows a wretched stretch of games without a positive result where they lost seven of nine MLS matches, playing out two draws in that period.
Although Eric Ramsay's men were recently defeated by Seattle Sounders (3-2) in late August, the Loons have clinched back-to-back league wins to leave them five points ahead of FC Dallas in 10th and five shy of Houston Dynamo in the coveted final spot in seventh.
Having ended 11th in the Western Conference last term, this year's ninth-placed standing with six games remaining puts Minnesota in a promising situation going into the closing rounds.
While the Black and Blue's current standing will see them head into a wild-card round match with the division's eighth-placed side (currently Portland Timbers), Ramsey will back his side to aim higher to secure direct qualification for the post-season competition.
So will the supporters at Allianz Field, who hope their players notch a fourth victory in five MLS matches against a Cincinnati side already assured a coveted spot.
Despite ranking 10 points off Inter Miami in their division, the second-placed team in the Eastern have little motivation in their final six matches besides maintaining their current position as a seeded team for the playoffs.
That is nearly certain, given Pat Noonan's troops are 12 points clear of Orlando City in fifth as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Regardless, the away side will hope they have overcome the recent wobble either side of the Leagues Cup in which they lost four consecutive league matches, including a 2-0 loss to Inter Miami, before securing four points from the last two fixtures.
Although the Knifey Lions could extend their undefeated streak to three by avoiding a ninth loss this term, it remains to be seen what version of Cincinnati turn up in Saint Paul on Wednesday.
Team News
Even though he barely played before sustaining his injury, Zarek Valentin (leg) is not anticipated to return until October.
Kelvin Yeboah and Bongokuhle Hlongwane have been decisive for Minnesota in recent weeks, with the former scoring in two of the home side's last four matches and the latter finding the net in three games in that period.
Cincinnati are expected to be without the quartet of Nick Hagglund (leg), Alec Kann (hip), Isaiah Foster and Matt Miazga (both have knee injuries).
Although the away side's form has oscillated recently, Luciano Acosta remains the club's key forward, and he could add to his 26 goal contributions (11 goals, 15 assists) in midweek.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Diaz, Boxall, Tapias, Padelford; Dotson, Trapp; Hlongwane, Lod, Pereyra; Yeboah
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Yedlin, Awaziem, Powell; Orellano, Nwobodo, Bucha, Kubo; Acosta, Gioacchini; Kelsy
We say: Minnesota United 1-1 FC Cincinnati
Having won seven consecutive road matches in the competition, Cincinnati have lost two on the trot heading into Wednesday's visit to Minnesota.
While the hosts have struggled on their turf lately, losing four in five, the visiting club's seeming diminished motivation could see both sides come away with a share of the spoils.
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