Minnesota United will look to leverage their great play on the road and solid record of production over Austin FC when the teams square off for the first time this season.
The Loons (5-5-4, 19 points) have won a league-best four away matches this season, including a 1-0 victory at Portland on May 20. Minnesota has captured 10 road games since the start of the 2022 season, second in MLS to CF Montreal’s 12.
Minnesota heads to Austin after a 1-1 draw at home with Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s shot in the 31st minute that ricocheted off the post and then off RSL’s Justen Glad and into the net accounted for the Loons’ only goal.
“We have to be better,” Loons captain Michael Boxall said. “We must have the worst points per game record at home. These are games we should be winning. For us in the final third, we have to be creating more.”
Austin (4-6-4, 16 points) looks to return to winning form after a 2-1 setback at Houston on Saturday that snapped a two-game winning streak in MLS play.
Gyasi Zardes’ goal in the 22nd minute was the Verde’s lone tally. It was Zardes’ third goal in three games and his 100th in MLS play, becoming just one of 13 players to reach the milestone.
The Verde’s loss was their sixth of the season; Austin did not absorb its sixth loss last year until its 26th match — in August.
“We didn’t do ourselves any favors and, you know, we let Houston have three points, to be honest,” Austin FC coach Josh Wolff said after Saturday’s defeat.
Minnesota has won three of the past four matches against Austin. Four of the five all-time matches in the series have been decided by a goal.
–Field Level Media
