Playoffs at stake in Minnesota United’s regular season finale

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Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath said all season making the playoffs is the bare minimum expectation for his team. They’ll have a playoff-like feel in Sunday’s regular season finale against Vancouver where a win puts the Loons into the playoffs, while a loss eliminates them.

Click the video box on this page to watch interviews with Minnesota United players Wil Trapp and Michael Boxall, as well as head coach Adrian Heath

United seemed a lock to make the playoffs as recently as late August, but a run of six straight games without a win has their playoff fate unsettled into Sunday’s finale.

Major League Soccer Western Conference standings with one game remaining

The Loons have two draws and four losses in their last six games, and have been outscored 14-2 in that span.

Their most recent loss came at San Jose, where United lost 2-0 to the last-placed team in the Western Conference.

If the Loons do win Sunday, there are scenarios that would see them finish in fourth place – meaning they would host a first round playoff game.

United’s situation gets murky if they tie Vancouver, as their playoff fate would then hinge on Real Salt Lake’s (currently in 8th place) result.

Sunday’s 4:00p.m. finale against Vancouver is expected to draw the largest crowd in Allianz Field history.