Minnesota United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Weather: 82 degrees, mostly sunny, 9 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-105; draw plus-275; Vancouver plus-205

Series history: Almost dead even over seven seasons. Since joining MLS, Minnesota is 5-4-4 against Vancouver with a zero goal differential. This is their first matchup of 2024.

Form: MNUFC (8-7-6, 29 points) have lost four straight matches and one more defeat would break a five-way tie for the club’s worst losing skid in MLS play. Vancouver (7-7-7, 28 points) lost two in a row before a 4-3 home win over St. Louis on Saturday.

Absences: Dayne St. Clair, Tani Oluwaseyi, Carlos Harvey and Alejandro Bran (international duties) are out. Teemu Pukki (knee), Franco Fragapane (knee) and Hugo Bacharach (knee) are also likely out. Wil Trapp (leg) is doubtful.

Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, CF Sang Bin Jeong, CF Bongi Hlongwane; CM Joseph Rosales, CM Hassani Dotson, CM Robin Lod; LWB Devin Padelford, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Zarek Valentin, RWB DJ Taylor; GK Clint Irwin.

RELATED: Loons’ ‘Brilliant’ midfielder Robin Lod selected for MLS All-Star Game

Player to watch: Vancouver forward Brian White poured in a hat trick for a comeback win over St. Louis City. White’s performance contributed to St. Louis head coach Bradley Carnell losing his job after 1 1/2 seasons on Monday.

Scouting report: Loons coach Eric Ramsay’s baseline expectation is for a strong and compact defensive team, but his side has allowed 2.75 goals per game in this four-game lull. Ramsay should tighten things up with a veteran such as Valentin; Taylor at center back did not work last weekend. Vancouver, meanwhile, has scored 1.5 goals per match this season, so if MNUFC will need to a handle on White (eight goals) and Ryan Gauld (nine).

Key stat: MNUFC is tied for third-lowest possession (44.6%) in MLS this season, and this deficit forces the Loons to defend more often. This directly contributed to Portland scoring a stoppage time winner on Saturday. Timbers had three goals, but 4.0 expected goals.

Storyline: With the weekend victory, the Timbers jumped over Minnesota in the Western Conference standings; now another club from the Pacific Northwest can move past the Loons in a similar way Wednesday.

Prediction: With another shorthanded squad, it’s difficult to see how the Loons get out of this dark wilderness. But there is light through the trees with an ugly-but-slightly-better 1-1 draw.

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