The first games in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs conclude on Tuesday at America First Field when Real Salt Lake host Minnesota United in game one of that best-of-three series.
In their regular-season finale, RSL defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 to finish third in the Western Conference, with the Loons beating St Louis City 4-1, ending the campaign in sixth.
Match preview
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Fresh off their best finish to a regular season since 2019 (third), Salt Lake head into the post-season with home-field advantage in round one.
Pablo Mastroeni's men are on a six-match MLS unbeaten run heading into this encounter, winning their last two contests by a single goal.
During the regular season, they won 11 matches at America First Field, while they have collected at least a point in five straight MLS home games.
It has been over a dozen years since they lost a playoff game in Sandy, Utah, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the 2012 conference semi-finals.
In 2024, RSL came back to win five matches in the regular season when conceding the opening goal, gaining 15 points in the process.
Claret and Cobalt have never lost a home game against Minnesota United, playing to a 0-0 draw the last time they faced them at America First Field earlier this month.
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Thanks to a late surge down the stretch of the domestic campaign, Minnesota are back in the post-season after missing out in 2023.
The Loons are unbeaten in their last five league matches, winning four of those encounters and have a chance on Tuesday to equal their longest MLS winning run this season (three).
Minnesota were strong away from home all year long, winning eight matches as the visitors, tied with Los Angeles FC for the most in the Western Conference.
Eric Ramsay's men have not been behind in an MLS match since mid-September, when FC Cincinnati hung onto a 2-1 victory against them at Allianz Field.
They have lost their last three MLS Cup playoff outings and have not won a post-season contest since the 2020 conference semi-finals, when they defeated Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park, 3-0.
In 2024, the Loons won three domestic games when conceding the opening goal while suffering just one defeat when drawing first blood, losing 3-2 to the Portland Timbers in June.
Team News
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Salt Lake could be missing Bode Hidalgo for this encounter due to a sore groin, while Pablo Ruiz and Kevin Bonilla are doubtful with knee injuries.
Philip Quinton is unlikely to feature in this match because of a hamstring strain, and Brayan Vera will be suspended for one more game following a spitting incident earlier in the campaign.
Diego Luna kickstarted the RSL comeback against the Whitecaps with the equaliser, with Isaac Boehmer's own goal enabling them to claim all three points.
A thigh injury will likely keep Matus Kmet on the sidelines for Minnesota United on Tuesday, as he is still recovering from a thigh injury.
There were four new faces in the Loons starting 11 on Decision Day, with Michael Boxall, Joseph Rosales, Robin Lod and Kelvin Yeboah coming in for Miguel Tapias, Jeong Sang-bin, Anthony Markanich and Tani Oluwaseyi.
Sang-bin notched a brace in their victory over St Louis City, Lod netted the opener, while a Henry Kessler own goal rounded out the scoring in the second half.
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Brown, Glad, Brody, Katranis; Ojeda, Eneli; Luna, Crooks, Julio; Arango
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Harvey, Boxall, Diaz, Rosales; Dotson, Trapp; Hlongwane, Lod, Oluwaseyi; Yeboah
We say: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Minnesota United
Claret and Cobalt are competing in the playoffs for a third successive occasion, and that experience, along with the quality of Chicho Arango, could make the difference in this opening contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
