united gameday

6:30 p.m. Vs. TAMPA BAY • AL LANG STADIUM, TAMPA

Watch: Free web stream at www.nasl.com

Preview: With a victory or draw, first-place Minnesota (6-1-1) clinches the North American Soccer League spring season championship and guarantees itself a playoff spot in the fall. Lose and the Loons could be knocked from their perch by New York or San Antonio.

United FC at a glance: Minnesota won 2-1 at Atlanta last week despite missing several starters to injury or suspension. Less-familiar faces stepped up. Reserve goaltender Mitch Hildebrandt stopped five shots. Midfielder Greg Jordan scored the game's first goal, a tally voted NASL Play of the Week. And Brent Kallman drew kudos for his work on defense. Rookie sensation Christian Ramirez scored his league-leading fifth goal of the season to beat Atlanta.

Tampa Bay at a glance: Only one team has scored fewer goals (eight) than Tampa Bay, a team United coach Manny Lagos nevertheless called "better than its record." The Rowdies (2-3-3) won 1-0 at San Antonio. The return of veteran Minnesota defenders Tiago Calvano and Cristiano Dias will further challenge a less-potent Tampa Bay team.

DAVID LA VAQUE