Minnesota United v Sporting Kansas City: ‘It’s what I’ve waited for’ – Oluwaseyi

Minnesota United forward Tani Oluwaseyi is relishing his chance in the first team ahead of their clash with Sporting Kansas City.

The Loons have enjoyed a strong start to the MLS season and sit fifth in the Western Conference.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, sit three points below them in 10th having won just two of their opening nine matches.

Oluwaseyi scored the opening goal in Minnesota’s 3-0 win over Charlotte last weekend, which ended a run of three games without a victory.

Asked how it feels to break into the starting line-up after spending his first year at the club on loan, Oluwaseyi, who has scored a joint-high three goals, said:

“It’s something that I’ve been waiting for, for I guess the last three years.

“I hoped that I could do it in year one, and that was kind of the goal going in, but everyone has a different journey, which is very evident in the game.

“So it took a couple of years, but I think being here now, being given the opportunity, the biggest thing for me is just grabbing an opportunity and making the most with it.”

Ka-chow pic.twitter.com/ICKps10kEb

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) April 25, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota – Robin Lod

Lod was involved in all three Minnesota United goals in the win over Charlotte on Sunday, scoring once and assisting twice, with one of those setting up Oluwaseyi. Lod is the sixth player in Loons’ history with a goal and two assists in a regular-season MLS match and the first since Emanuel Reynoso in November 2020.

Sporting KC – Erik Thommy

Thommy is Sporting KC’s highest scorer this season, netting four goals in their eight games so far. Against St. Louis City last weekend, he had the most shots (five) and created the second-highest xG (0.62), netting their third goal.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WIN

Sporting Kansas City have won four straight matches against Minnesota United, the longest winning streak by either team in the series, scoring at least three times in three of the four wins.

However, Minnesota United have equalled the best start in club history with 14 points from eight matches (also in 2022). The Loons have never collected 15 or more points in their first nine games of an MLS season.

There have been at least five goals scored in four of Sporting Kansas City’s last five matches with a total of 26 goals being scored in those games (13 scored, 13 conceded). The 26 combined goals are the most in a span of five matches for Sporting since September-October 2019 (27).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota – 46.1%

Draw – 27.5%

Sporting KC – 26.4%