Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake game preview

Salt Lake to bring plenty of pace

Preview: United (6-11-1, ninth in the West) embarks on three home games in nine days starting with Real Salt Lake (9-8-2, fourth in the West). The Loons need to produce at least seven points to climb into the sixth and final playoff spot. United has lost four of its past five league games while Salt Lake is coming off back-to-back victories. But last season, the Loons scored three goals in one half in the victory against Salt Lake at TCF Bank Stadium, a tally they have only matched one other time, also last season at Atlanta.

Quotable: "A team that's in really good form lately, really confident. They started slow, but they've turned it around, and they've looked really good. High energy. A lot of press. They've been playing a lot of young guys. So, yeah, I expect a high-energy game, a lot of running. They're going to press a lot." – United center back Brent Kallman on Salt Lake.

Numbers: Salt Lake has three players with a team-high five goals: M Albert Rusnak, M Luis Silva and F Corey Baird.

Injuries: For United, M Sam Cronin (concussions) and D Jerome Thiesson (calf/Achilles') are out while F Abu Danladi (hamstring) and D Marc Burch (knee) are questionable. For Salt Lake, D Tony Beltran (knee), M Jordan Allen (knee), GK Alex Horwath (Achilles'), D Shawn Barry (knee), D Demar Phillips (ankle), M Luke Mulholland (back), D David Horst (Achilles'), F Ricky Lopez-Espin (knee) and GK Connor Sparrow (knee) are out.

Megan Ryan