Minnesota 'justified the work' by overcoming Real Salt Lake

Minnesota United "justified the work" they did in preparing for a penalty shootout after beating Real Salt Lake, so says Eric Ramsay.

Loons coach Ramsay invited the club's office staff to attend the training ground and jeer his players during penalty practice ahead of Minnesota's playoff opener against Salt Lake.

After a 0-0 draw, Minnesota came away with a 5-4 shootout victory to take the edge in the best-of-three series, meaning a win at home on Saturday would get them into the next round.

And Ramsay believes his unorthodox method of preparation paid off.

"I would like to think that probably, without that, the players wouldn't have had the level of conviction they largely showed," Ramsay said.

"It was a bit of fun. There was a real sense of us being intentional behind that.

"I was really pleased that we included that as part of our prep.

"I don't think there were big chances given up either way.

"I sort of felt like as we opened up, we started to leak a little bit more space that wasn't there in the opening stages.

"[Goalkeeper] Dayne [St. Clair] was called into action a couple more times, and so was [Salt Lake goalkeeper] Zac MacMath. So I think it was a very even game, and given that we're coming here as the away team under challenging conditions, that's hats off to us.

“It felt like if we if we won, it would have justified the work. If we lost, there wouldn't have been anything we could have done differently.

"We were very solid, very disciplined, and that's one goal allowed in six games, which is very difficult to achieve at this level.

"I'm pleased with the defensive effort. I was also pleased that we were able to start to find a foothold in the game with the ball and create a couple of really good chances."

It's been fun, Utah. We ain't coming back. pic.twitter.com/B7R1AJrs7Z

— x - Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) October 30, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United - Dawyne St. Clair

St. Clair made six saves in Game 1, and has been in fine form as of late.

United has allowed only one goal in their last six matches going back to the end of the regular season, going unbeaten in that time (W4 D2). This is the first time in club history that the Loons have allowed just one goal in a span of six matches in all competitions.

Real Salt Lake - Cristian Arango

Arango attempted five shots in Game 1, the most shots attempted by a Salt Lake player in a postseason match since Damir Kreilach had six attempts against Sporting Kansas City in the 2018 playoffs.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WIN

Salt Lake have managed just four wins in 21 all-time away playoff matches (D7 L10) including going winless in four straight (D2 L2). RSL lost on penalties in each of the last two away matches that ended in draws (2022 at Austin FC, 2023 against the Houston Dynamo).

After Tuesday's win on spot-kicks, Minnesota have been involved in seven penalty shootouts in all competitions since joining MLS in 2017, winning six of them, including the last four in a row.

The last five meetings between Minnesota and Salt Lake have been drawn after 90 minutes.

Including playoffs, the only matchup that has been drawn six straight times in MLS play is between the Chicago Fire and the New York Revolution, who played in six straight draws from 2021 to 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United - 44.5%

Real Salt Lake - 28.6%

Draw - 26.9%