Clinging to playoff hopes, Minnesota faces last-place Sporting KC

Six points below a Western Conference wild-card spot with just three games and a possible nine points remaining, Minnesota United will try to keep its slim playoff hopes alive when it hosts Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Minnesota United would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Sporting KC or a draw combined with a Real Salt Lake victory at Austin FC. The Loons have matches remaining at Los Angeles FC on Sunday and against San Jose on Decision Day, Nov. 7.

Minnesota is unbeaten in its last four matches (1-0-3) but has picked up just six of a possible 12 points. Still, coach Cameron Knowles isn't ready to throw in the towel.

"There's still games to be played," Knowles said. "So, we just have to look at the one in front of us and really attack it and go for three points."

Kansas City is last in the Western Conference and has already been eliminated from playoff contention. However, one of its six wins came against the Loons, 2-1, in their first meeting July 22 in Kansas City.

Minnesota, just 3-5-7 at home this season, is tied with Sporting KC (3-9-4) for the fewest home wins in the league. Kansas City is 2-6-4 all-time at Minnesota.

Sporting KC is on a three-game losing streak, having been outscored 9-2. Kansas City has allowed 77 goals, one shy of the MLS single-season record set by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2024.

Defender Jake Davis says his team still has something to play for, even though it can no longer avoid finishing in the Western Conference cellar.

"I still want to go there and win," Davis said. "I think we've always had competitive matches with them. This is a good test to see how far we've come. We've beat them once, can we do it twice?"

--Field Level Media