Match Preview: The “Nicest Rivalry in Sports” returns this weekend in KCK

Three matches into the 2025 season and the Loons have made the most of it. Minnesota United sit at 2-1-0 with six points. Both wins were 1–0 clean sheet victories over Montréal and San Jose. MNUFC have heavily relied on their defence in the opening three clashes, holding 35% and 27% possession in their two victories. Regarding the imbalance of possession Eric Ramsey said, “We’ve got a really purposeful way of counter-attacking when we steal the ball. So, we do want to be more balanced than that, and I say that repeatedly. But when I say that, I’m not saying we want to be a team that looks entirely different from the team we’ve seen at the moment.”

Sporting Kansas City on the other hand has been on a train going to polar opposite direction of MNUFC. Peter Vermes side has lost 10 competitive matches on the trot. That losing streak began on 21-Sept-2024 when SKC lost 2–0 at home to MNUFC, in the Loons first ever win in Kansas City. Sporting’s 10 match losing streak includes 7 MLS matches (4 in 2024), 2 Concacaf Champions Cup matches, and the 2024 US Open Cup final. During the opening three matches SKC has allowed five goals, while scoring just two goals, and falling 2–1 to San Jose (home) and DC United (away) in their previous two.

News & Notes

The week was extremely busy and newsworthy for the Twos, but not quite as much for the first team. Coming off injuries, DJ Taylor and Loïc Mesanvi started for MNUFC2 against Austin FC II on Friday night in Austin, TX. The Twos took home a 1–0 victory of their own to open the MLS Next Pro season.

Minnesota United also Jordan Adebayo-Smith loaned out to Detroit City FC (USLC) for the remainder of 2025. Adebayo-Smith will wear #99 for Le Rouge and is already with DCFC. Detroit takes to the road for a match with Colorado Springs Switchbacks at 5pm CT on the 15th of March, just a few hours before MNUFC kicks off against SKC. The press release did not mention Minnesota having a right to recall Adebayo-Smith from his loan, which could mean that we may not see him with the Loons for the rest of 2025.

Availability

SKC | Out: Andrew Brody (quad) ; Questionable: Tim Leibold (knee), Dany Rosero (ankle), Khiry Shelton (hamstring)

MIN | Out: Keller (leg), Rosales (leg); Questionable: None

Staff Predictions

Ashle Paige: nil–nil draw

Tim McLaughlin: 0–2 Loons

Michael Lake: 1–3 Loons

Bridget McDowell: 0–2 Loons

Seth Steffengahen: 1–3 Loons

MJ: 1–2 Loons