6 p.m. vs. Columbus • Ch. 29, 1500-AM

Seeking a strong finish before break

Preview: With multiple missing pieces, Minnesota United (5-10-3 at 10th in the Western conference) will try to avoid limping into the leaguewide break when it faces the Columbus Crew SC (8-10-1 at sixth in the Eastern conference) on Tuesday. While United forward Christian Ramirez carries most of his team's scoring chances and has 10 goals this season, Columbus has a much more balanced attack, as F Ola Kamara (nine goals), M Federico Higuain (nine) and M Justin Meram (eight) lead the way.

Quotable: "They're a dangerous team. They have a lot of good attacking pieces. So for us, it's getting back to getting in our lines, defending, being positive and trying to limit their chances as much as possible." — United goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

Numbers: Columbus has been caught offsides 40 times this season, which ties the team for third-most in the league. United has 31 offsides calls.

Absences: M Johan Venegas, D Francisco Calvo and D Jermaine Taylor are on national team duty while M Bernardo Anor (leg), D Thomas de Villardi (Achilles), D Marc Burch (groin), D Vadim Demidov (knee), D Brent Kallman (knee) and GK John Alvbage (thumb) are out for United. D Gaston Sauro (PCL), M Ben Swanson (ankle) and M Niko Hansen (hernia) are out for Columbus while Meram (ankle) is questionable.

MEGAN RYAN