SANDY, Utah (ABC4) — Real Salt Lake looks to bounce back from a rare home loss as they go on the road to face Minnesota United FC on Saturday night.
Real Salt Lake’s attack will be bolstered by the return of Polish attacking winger Dominic Marzcuk and U.S. attacking midfielder Diego Luna, who combined on the winning goal when last they suited up for RSL in a 2-1 road win against Houston.
Minnesota is tied for 4th place in the Western conference but just two points ahead of RSL in the standings, and with Minnesota having eliminated RSL in the playoffs last year, some players are eager to leapfrog them into an early-season playoff position with a win.
“It leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you get knocked out of the playoffs by a team,” said homegrown center-back and 2024 MLS All-Star Justen Glad. “So there’s definitely a little extra desire there to win and to get them back for that.”
Minnesota’s front line is led by forwards Kelvin Yeboah (4 Goals, 0 Assists in 2025) and Tani Oluwaseyi (2G, 2A) but the team is perhaps most well-known for their defensive stoutness. They most often start with five defenders in a low block that can be difficult to penetrate and are backed up by Canadian International goalkeeper Dayne St. Claire.
Glad says the coaching staff has been focusing on ways to be successful while maintaining their own identity and playing style.
“With five in the back it’s always going to be difficult to create,” said Glad, “and obviously they’ve got good players on the counter. We have to be clinical in front of goal and then be dialed in on the other side of the ball. It’s about staying focussed for the full 90, limiting their opportunities while capitalizing on ours.”
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Allianz Field in St Paul, Minnesota, and the match will be broadcast on Apple TV+/MLS Season Pass.
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