Minnesota United v Sporting Kansas City: Ramsay challenges hosts to show 'good version' of themselves

Eric Ramsay is hopeful that his Minnesota United side can put their best foot forward in the remaining games of the regular season, starting against Sporting Kansas City.

Minnesota are still in with a chance of finishing top of the Western Conference, sitting just two points behind leaders San Diego FC with two games left to play.

The Loons' place in the postseason is already confirmed, but they are currently without a win in their last three matches in all competitions (D1 L2), though they did snatch a 1-1 draw against Colorado Rapids last time out.

And Ramsay wants to see his side revert to their previous form in order to go into the playoffs on a high.

"If we're a good version of ourselves moving forward, then I know we can be competitive against anyone," Ramsay said.

"There was more good than bad [against Colorado], and we are a team that can handle the ball in the first third, but in order to be one of the top teams, that's another question that we've got to answer.

"We are going to have to work at that and make sure we don't lose a lot of what's made us a competitive team this season. We have a group that responds well to setbacks, and that is exciting to me."

Sporting KC, meanwhile, sit 14th in the table, having already been confirmed to miss out on the playoffs.

They have lost their last four matches, including a heavy 4-1 loss to the LA Galaxy last weekend, and interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin was left to rue more defensive lapses.

"Unfortunately, no matter what formation we're putting in, whether we put a defensive midfielder in there to help protect that space or a double pivot, it doesn't seem to be working," he said.

"It doesn't work. Time and time again, you have balls that are played behind our outside backs, and then as we lose a center-back trying to cover the space, we don't cover the important spaces.

"We're going to try to get better at that. We've tried to get better at that all year, but unfortunately, it's one of the big issues within our team."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Nectarios Triantis

With his long-range goal on Saturday, Nectarios Triantis became the second Loons player to score multiple goals from outside the box in 2025 (also Joaquin Pereyra).

It is the fourth straight season Minnesota have had multiple players score multiple goals from outside the box.

Sporting Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic

Dejan Joveljic has scored six goals against Minnesota in his MLS career (regular season and playoffs).

The only club Joveljic has more goals against in MLS play (including playoffs) is the San Jose Earthquakes, with seven.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota are unbeaten in their last four matches (W3 D1) against Sporting Kansas City, scoring multiple goals in each of those meetings.

Prior to that, the Loons had scored two or more goals in just three of the 18 all-time regular-season matches in the fixture.

Each of the last five goals scored by Minnesota have come in the 65th minute or later, while 10 of their last 13 goals have come during that time. Since July 12, the Loons' 10 league goals in the 65th minute or later are the most by any MLS team.

And Sporting KC are struggling for form at the moment. They recorded their 19th loss of the regular season on Saturday, equalling their mark from 2024.

Kansas City join Toronto FC (2023-24), Colorado Rapids (2017-18) and Chivas USA (2013-14) as one of four teams to record consecutive seasons with 19 or more losses.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 64.3%

Draw – 19.1%

Sporting Kansas City – 16.6%