MLS resumes in home markets: Scouting Minnesota United FC

Major League Soccer's highly anticipated return to home markets will see Sporting Kansas City play six regular season matches against four different regional rivals between Aug. 21 and Sept. 13. This six-game stretch represents phase one of the league's return to play, with all clubs expected to play an additional 12 fixtures from mid-September until Nov. 8 to complete the 23-game regular season.

From Aug. 15-18, SportingKC.com will provide scouting reports on the four opponents that comprise Sporting's schedule in phase one: the Houston Dynamo (Aug. 25 and Sept. 5), the Colorado Rapids (Aug. 29), FC Dallas (Sept. 2) and Minnesota United FC (Aug. 21 and Sept. 13).

The "friendliest rivalry in sports" looks likely to reach new heights in 2020, as Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC presently own the top two spots in the Western Conference table. Manager Peter Vermes’ men sit on 12 points with a 4-1-0 record, while the Loons are a point behind and remain unbeaten at 3-0-2.

All of that will come to a head Friday when Sporting visits Minnesota on Friday as Major League Soccer returns to home markets. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.

With that in mind, here's a primer on Minnesota's impressive 2020 campaign to date.

Early Season

A scintillating start to the season saw Minnesota record multi-goal road wins over the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes. The 3-1 defeat of Portland on March 1 included a brace from attacking midfielder Kevin Molino and a pair of Ethan Finlay assists. The Loons' 5-2 dismantling of San Jose on March 7 was even more impressive, with former Sporting center back and reigning MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara scoring twice and heralded newcomer Luis Amarilla finding the back of the net for the second straight game.

MLS is Back Tournament

The Loons demonstrated that their early-season surge was no fluke, finishing second in Group D of the MLS is Back Tournament behind Sporting and advancing to the semifinals of the historic competition. Minnesota erased a 1-0 deficit in their tournament opener against Vermes' men to claim a 2-1 victory, then settled for a pair of draws against Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids, respectively. Ethan Finlay bagged a brace in the 2-2 stalemate versus Colorado.

In the Round of 16, the Loons ousted tournament sweethearts Columbus Crew SC by prevailing 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in which talented midfielder Robin Lod found the back of the net. The quarterfinal round yielded one of the competition's most surprising results, as Minnesota hammered the red-hot San Jose Earthquakes by a 4-1 scoreline. Lod, Amarilla, Jacori Hayes and Marlon Hairston provided the goals to pace a comprehensive performance.

Head coach Adrian Heath's side would see their run come to an end with a 3-1 semifinal loss to hosts Orlando City SC on Aug. 6. A scintillating first-half brace from Nani was too much for the Loons to overcome, although Mason Toye did manage to notch his first MLS goal since last September.

Three Players to Watch

Luis Amarilla: Upon joining the Loons at the start of 2020, the Paraguayan striker notoriously promised Heath 25 goals in his debut MLS season. The 24-year-old isn't quite on pace for that total, but he has struck three times across all competitions as the team's most natural scorer. With midfield playmakers Jan Gregus and Kevin Molino pulling the strings, expect Amarilla to hit double-digit goals in the weeks and months to come.

Ethan Finlay: The dynamic outside midfielder has started every match for Minnesota this season, recording two goals and two assists in regular season play. Finlay burst onto the scene with Columbus in 2015, but a few injuries prompted a downturn in production. He was traded to Minnesota in 2017, missed most of 2018 through injury, then cemented himself as a big-time contributor last year.

Michael Boxall: With Ike Opara out injured, the backline impetus belongs to the New Zealand international center back. Boxall has been an ever-present fixture in the Loons lineup since 2018 and generated mild discussion about an MLS Defender of the Year nod last season, only to be outgunned by Opara. It's worth noting that the Loons have just one clean sheet in seven games this year across all competitions.

All-Time #MINvSKC Meetings

The teams notably met on July 12 in the Group D opener of the MLS is Back Tournament, and although Sporting dominated the first 60 minutes and carried a 1-0 lead into second-half stoppage time behind Khiry Shelton’s goal, Minnesota struck in the 92nd and 97th minutes—an own goal and a Kevin Molino strike—to seal the unlikely 2-1 victory.

Revenge just might be on Sporting’s mind this time around, but they have yet to win in Minnesota since the Loons joined MLS in 2017. They have, however, dominated Minnesota at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting is a perfect 5-0-0 against the Loons at home in all competitions, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one.

• Regular season record vs. Minnesota: 4-3-2
• All competitions record vs. Minnesota: 5-4-2

Sporting's Next Six Matches