Minnesota United have done enough to stay in contention in the Western Conference, but work remains to be done.
That task hits another potential hurdle on Saturday in a road match against the Houston Dynamo, who need some positive results in the final weeks of the season after a rough patch.
The teams are meeting for the second time in two weeks after a 2-2 draw on Oct. 10 in Saint Paul, Minn.
Houston (13-9-8, 47 points) has clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but the Dynamo are on a six-match winless streak (0-2-4).
Still, this week, the club announced a contract extension for coach Ben Olsen through the 2027-28 season.
“I am proud of the progress we have made together and the standards we have established,” Olsen said. “(We’ve done it) in a bunch of different ways.”
Minnesota (8-12-10, 34 points) has gone 1-0-2 in three matches this month. The Loons beat St. Louis City 3-2 on Oct. 17.
There appears to be good carryover from that result.
“Good energy with the group,” Minnesota United coach Cameron Knowles said. “We’ve shown now that we can compete with some of the better teams in the league. We can play in difficult places.”
The Dynamo and the Loons have both scored seven goals during their respective past three matches.
Minnesota striker Kelvin Yeboah already owns the team’s single-season record of 17 goals. He has scored in three consecutive matches and in six of the last seven.
“Nothing really changes if you score goals or don’t score goals,” Yeboah said. “Sometimes, the football rewards you with goals.”
With four matches remaining and needing to make up five points on the team in the last Western Conference playoff position, the Loons know they need a strong finishing kick to reach the postseason.
“We might have to beat everybody that’s left,” Knowles said. “The guys have done really well to put themselves in a position where each of these games are really going to matter.”
Yeboah said there’s no sense in worrying about outcomes of matches taking place elsewhere.
“You can just focus on what’s in front of you,” Yeboah said. “Just go in there giving your heart.”
The Dynamo should be aware of Minnesota’s situation.
“I know they’re hungry,” Olsen said. “They are just coming off a big win so they’ll be confident as well. It’s important for us to understand where they’re at and make sure we match some of that desperation and urgency that they have.”
The previous match between the teams included Duncan McGuire’s tying goal in second-half stoppage time.
“That game should be fresh in our mind,” Knowles said.
Houston owns an 8-3-4 home record this year, but Minnesota has been a tough road squad, earning 18 points (5-7-3) in 15 matches.
–Field Level Media
