9 p.m. at Real Salt Lake • Ch. 29, 1500-AM
In need of another victory
Preview: The last time Minnesota United (4-8-2) encountered Real Salt Lake (4-10-2), United coach Adrian Heath said it could be the most important match in club history, as the struggling Loons were in desperate need of their first victory. They got it, winning 4-2 on April 1. But 2½ months later, the teams meet under pretty similar circumstances. United, ninth in the Western Conference, and Salt Lake, 10th, are both five points out of playoff contention; United has lost its past two matches by seven total goals, Salt Lake by eight.
A new coach: For the first meeting between the teams this season, an interim coach was still on the bench for Salt Lake after the club fired its previous coach three matches into the season. This time around, new manager Mike Petke will be in command. And for the first time since he took the helm of the team, he will have pretty much his full roster at his disposal, with several players returning from injury and national team duty.
Numbers: United and Salt Lake have the worst goal differentials in the league, minus -14 for the Loons and minus-20 for Salt Lake.
Injuries: For United, M Bernardo Anor (leg), D Thomas de Villardi (Achilles') and D Joe Greenspan (concussion) are out. For Salt Lake, F Chad Barrett (knee) and M Albert Rusnak (national team duty) are out.
Megan Ryan
