Preview: Austin FC vs. Minnesota United - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors were denied a third consecutive league victory when they were held to a draw by Real Salt Lake last weekend and will be looking to return to winning ways.

Match preview

Austin FC failed to bounce back from their recent US Open Cup exit as they were beaten 2-1 by Houston Dynamo at the Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday morning.

The Orange Crush found themselves behind courtesy of a 22nd-minute strike from Gyasi Zardes before Hector Herrera and Ivan Franco hit the target to turn the game on its head.

This followed a 2-0 defeat against Chicago Fire in the US Open Cup round of 16 on May 25, when Rafael Czichos and Kacper Przybylko scored in either half to send the Fire through to the quarter-finals.

Austin now return home where they have lost just one of their last six games in the league, claiming two wins while scoring five goals and keeping three clean sheets since the start of March.

With 16 points from 14 games, Josh Wolff's men are currently 10th in the Western Conference standings, three points and five places behind Thursday's visitors.

Minnesota United, on the other hand, failed to return to winning ways as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake at Allianz Field on Sunday morning.

After falling behind to Jefferson Savarino's 28th-minute effort, the hosts were gifted an equaliser barely three minutes later as 26-year-old defender Justen Glad scored an own goal to force a share of the spoils.

Like their midweek host, Adrian Heath's side were dumped out of the US Open Cup in their previous outing as they suffered a humiliating 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Houston Dynamo on May 25.

However, with Sunday's result against Real Salt Lake, the Loons have now gone three consecutive MLS games without defeat, claiming seven points from a possible nine, having picked up just one point from their previous six matches preceding the run.

While Minnesota United will be looking to extend their fine league form, they have struggled on the road of late, losing four of their most recent five outings in the league since the first week of April.

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:

D

D

L

W

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L

Minnesota United Major League Soccer form:

D

L

L

W

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D

Team News

Austin FC will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Leo Vaisanen and Zan Kolmanic, who have been sidelined through knee and ACL injuries respectively.

They are joined on the hosts' injury table by Sebastian Driussi, who has been out of action since picking up a groin injury against San Jose Earthquakes on April 30.

Driussi, who netted 25 goals to claim the MLS Golden Boot last season, has missed the last seven matches, with January signing Zardes shouldering Los Verdes' goalscoring responsibilities.

Minnesota will still have to cope without the services of former Senegalese international Bakaye Dibassy, who is yet to feature this year after suffering an Achilles tendon injury last August.

Ryen Jiba is also ruled out of Thursday's game due to a knee problem, while fellow defender Mikael Marques has been sidelined since the start of April after picking up an ankle injury.

Austin FC possible starting lineup:

Stuver; Ring, Jimenez, Cascante; Lima, Djeffal, Pereira, Lundqvist; Finlay, Zardes, Rigoni

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:

Clair; Taylor, Boxall, Tapias, Lawrence; Dotson, Trapp; Hlongwane, Fragapane, Rosales; Amarilla

We say: Austin FC 1-1 Minnesota United

Austin FC and Minnesota United set out in search of a morale-boosting result following a rough one week. While Los Verdes' home advantage makes them slight favourites, we predict the visitors will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and maintain their unbeaten league run.

How to watch

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