7 p.m. vs. Vancouver

Ch. 29, 1500-AM

A golden opportunity vs. Vancouver

Preview: Minnesota United (5-9-2) caps a three-match week against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-6-2) on Saturday with a chance to vault itself very close to playoff contention. United, with 17 points, sits in ninth place in the Western conference, just three points from the Whitecaps in sixth. While the Loons have struggled in recent matches to take many shots, Vancouver actually ranks second-to-last in the league with just 50 shots on goal.

Coaching connection: United goalkeeping coach Marius Rovde coached at Vancouver from 2011 to 2016. United coach Adrian Heath said Rovde knows the Vancouver players very well, and he's spoken to the keepers' coach about the opponent. While the Loons have more insight into Vancouver than other teams, Heath said ultimately it's up to his players to take in that information and implement it on the pitch.

Absences: M Bernardo Anor (leg), D Thomas de Villardi (Achilles'), D Joe Greenspan (concussion), D Marc Burch (groin), D Vadim Demidov (knee), M Ish Jome (ankle) and F Abu Danladi (suspension) are out for United. D Brett Levis (ACL), M Yordy Reyna (foot), D David Edgar (PCL, MCL), D Christian Dean (foot), M Nicolas Mezquida (ankle), D Kendall Waston (hip), M Christian Bolanos (shoulder) and F Erik Hurtado (foot) are out for Vancouver.