MLS Cup Playoffs: Minnesota United at Los Angeles Galaxy

When: 5:25 p.m. CT Sunday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
Stream: FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 57 degrees, cloudy, 4 mph east wind
Betting line: Galaxy minus-150; draw plus-295; MNUFC plus-330

Form: The sixth-seeded Loons needed two slim wins in penalty kicks to get past third-seeded Real Salt Lake in the opening round. Second-seeded Galaxy trounced seventh-seed Colorado by a combined score of 9-1 across two easy victories.

History: MNUFC went 0-1-1 against L.A. in the regular season — a 2-1 road loss on July 7 when the Loons were shorthanded and a 2-2 home draw on May 15. Loons had a 2.5 to 1.0 advantage in expected goals in the St. Paul fixture.

Context: Galaxy won an MLS-best 13 home games during the regular season. They had three draws and their only loss at “home” actually came in a natural site match at the Rose Bowl Stadium against crosstown rival LAFC.

Momentum: If match goes to penalty kicks, the Loons odds of advancing would increase. Loons carry huge confidence into PKs after their success against RSL. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has been cool and conniving in those nervy moments.

Note: More than 275 tickets have been sold to MNUFC supporters for the away section of the stadium. More United fans are likely to have purchased seats elsewhere in the park.

Absences: Zarek Valentin (Achilles tendon) is out. Franco Fragapane (right leg) is questionable.

Projected XI: In a 5-4-1 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah; LW Joaquin Pereyra, MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp, RW Robin Lod; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Jefferson Diaz, CB Michael Boxall, CB Carlos Harvey, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Stats: Galaxy scored 69 goals in the regular season, which was third highest in MLS. They have a fabulous foursome of Gabriel Pec (16 goals) Dejan Joveljic (15), Riqui Puig (13) and Joseph Paintsil (10).

Scouting report: Puig is a problem. He leads MLS with 425 progressive passes, which is 122 more than No. 2 Carles Gil. He had 20 of those incisive passes against MNUFC in July. Wil Trapp and Hassani Dotson will need to minimize the Spaniard’s connecting and playmaking.

Quote: “I don’t call myself an underdog,” Yeboah said. “Anybody has a point of view of football, so we take whatever they say.”

Prediction: Galaxy are the clear favorite, and while head coach Eric Ramsay sees opportunities to counter, it’s harder to see the Loons advancing given L.A. high-end goal-scoring ability and home record. L.A. moves on, 2-1.