With just five regular-season games left, second place is on the line this afternoon when United and Real Salt Lake play at 4:30 p.m. on a perfect late-summer day at Allianz Field.
United plays without starting left back Chase Gasper, who is suspended today for one too many yellow cards accumulated.
Veteran French defender Wilfried Moimbe-Tahrat will start in Gasper's place.
Loons coach Adrian Heath's lineup also puts star Darwin Quintero back in the starting 11 line on his way back from a hamstring injury, but leaves Thomas Chacon and Angelo Rodriguez out of the 18 in uniform. Miguel Ibarra, Ethan Finlay and Abu Danladi are the substitutes available to come off the bench instead.
Real Salt Lake and Seattle with 46 points each are second and third in the West, one point ahead of United's 45 points. All three teams will have played 29 games so far and each will have four left after all three play today.
Here is United's starting 11 today:
23 Mason Toye
16 Robin Lod 25 Darwin Quintero 7 Kevin Molino
8 Jan Gregus 6 Ozzie Alonso
