LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 24
StubHub Center — Carson
August 11 - 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

Two teams coming off last-minute losses in Week 23 meet at StubHub Center as the LA Galaxy host Minnesota United FC Saturday night.

The Galaxy are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids, which snapped a nine-match unbeaten streak, while the Loons surrendered a pair of stoppage-time goals in a 2-1 home loss to Seattle Sounders FC.

The Galaxy have won their first two meetings with Minnesota United, outscoring them 5-1 in the process.

LA Galaxy

Without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was unavailable per MLS policy after missing the MLS All-Star Game, the Galaxy (10-8-5) raced out to a first-half lead, but conceded twice in the second half in a 2-1 loss at Colorado Saturday night.

Romain Alessandrini scored his seventh goal of the season to put the visitors in front in the 33rd minute. Red-hot Kellyn Acosta leveled in the 50th minute before Sam Nicholson struck for the dramatic 90th-minute winner.

“We have to make sure it’s just a bump in the road,” Sigi Schmid said. “We’ve had a good stretch, but all of those things come to end at some time, so we have to stand up. We know what we did wrong, we have to look at that and make sure we come out ready to play next week against Minnesota.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: D - Michael Ciani
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Rolf Feltscher (shoulder surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-1-2, right to left)
GK: David Bingham — Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik — Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen, Jonathan dos Santos, Ashley Cole — Giovani dos Santos — Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ola Kamara

Notes: Ibrahimovic is averaging 1.5 goals+assists per 90. Since 2010, no player has averaged more than 1.4 per 90 over the course of a season (min. 1,000 minutes played). … Los Angeles saw their nine-game unbeaten run end in their 2-1 loss in Colorado last weekend. The Galaxy have not lost back-to-back league matches since a four-game losing streak in May.

Minnesota United FC

After four consecutive wins at TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota (9-13-1) dropped a 2-1 decision to Seattle Sounders FC Saturday. It was the Loons' second consecutive defeat.

Darwin Quintero opened the scoring in the 19th minute with his 10th goal of the season and that lead held up until second-half stoppage time when Nicolas Lodeiro leveled from the penalty spot and Will Bruin followed with the decisive goal six minutes later.

“Obviously bitterly disappointed,” Heath said. “Our home form has been really good. To come away with nothing is a little bit of a killer blow to be honest. They were hanging at the door and eventually they knocked it in.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Collen Warner, M - Rasmus Schuller
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M - Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M - Ethan Finlay (torn ACL), D - Jerome Thiesson (right leg injury), M - Maximiano (right knee injury)

Projected Starting XI
(3-1-4-2, right to left)
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Francisco Calvo — Collen Warner — Miguel Ibarra, Ibson, Rasmus Schuller, Alexi Gomez — Darwin Quintero, Angelo Rodriguez

Notes: Since his debut on Apirl 14 only two players have more goals+assists than Quintero (18). … Minnesota have lost their last eight road games in MLS play, allowing 3+ goals in seven of the eight matches.

All-Time Series

Overall: LA Galaxy 2 wins, 5 goals … Minnesota United FC 0 wins, 1 goal … 0 draws
At LA: Galaxy 1 win, 3 goals … Minnesota United FC 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at LA: LA Galaxy 3, Minnesota United FC 0 (Oct. 15, 2017)