Minnesota United heads to last-place San Jose on Saturday night one point below the Western Conference playoff line and trying to a snap a nearly four-month road winless streak.
The Loons (9-11-6, 33 points) are 0-5-2 in their last seven road contests with their last win coming at Atlanta United on May 4. Five of their eight remaining regular-season contests are on the road, starting with Saturday’s contest against the Earthquakes (5-19-2, 17 points), who have the fewest points in MLS and a league-worst negative-28 goal differential.
“We know we’re at that point in the season where every game is very important and can really affect the standings and we need to collect as many points as possible,” Minnesota goaltender Dayne St. Clair said. “We have to go in there and into every game with the mentality that we’re going to go and get three points.”
The Loons have won just once in their last 11 league matches (1-8-2). That came on July 20 in Saint Paul, Minn., when they defeated the Quakes 2-0 with St. Clair making one save en route to his third clean sheet of the season. Bongokuhle Hlongwane scored in the 75th minute to seal the win after San Jose defender Tanner Beason put Minnesota ahead in the first half with an own goal.
The Quakes are coming off an impressive 2-0 road win at third-place Real Salt Lake last Saturday, the second MLS coaching victory for interim head coach Ian Russell. Russell took over for Luchi Gonzalez on June 24.
“I was just happy with the consistent 94-minute performance on the road,” Russell said. “I feel like it was a really complete win.”
Forward Cristian Espinoza scored his fourth goal in the victory, giving him his 100th goal contribution (32 goals, 68 assists) in a San Jose uniform. That’s the third most points in team history behind league all-time scoring leader Chris Wondolowski (207) and Ronald Cerritos (108).
“It means a lot,” Espinoza said. “Since I came here in 2019, I never expected to achieve all these numbers. Obviously, I’m extremely happy. I hope I can keep going and achieve more with San Jose.”
–Field Level Media
