When >> 7:30 tonight.

Where >> Allianz Field, St. Paul

Stream >> MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Radio >> KSTP-AM 1500

Weather >> 66 degrees, rain, 10 mph east wind

Betting line >> MNUFC minus-115; draw plus-270; Houston plus-290

Form >> The Loons (8-4-6, 30 points) had their four-match unbeaten streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to San Diego FC on June 14. Houston (5-8-5, 20 points) has dropped two straight to two of the worst teams in MLS, Montreal and Kansas City, by scores of 3-1.

Recent matchup >> MNUFC overhauled its starting XI and those eight changes — including five making their first starts of 2025 — resulted in a 2-0 loss to Houston on May 15. The Loons won’t be full strength Wednesday but aren’t expected to tie one hand behind their back in St. Paul.

Absences >> Four key MNUFC players — Dayne St. Clair and Tani Oluwaseyi (Canada), Carlos Harvey (Panama) and Joseph Rosales (Honduras) — remain away for the Concacaf Gold Cup and will miss Wednesday’s match. Morris Duggan (back) is out.

Stats >> The defeat to high-flying expansion side San Diego was the first time Minnesota had lost a match when scoring the first goal this season. They are now 8-1-3 in those games, 0-3-0 when allowing the first goal, along with three scoreless draws.

Check-in >> Swedish club Malmo FF has stopped trying to acquire Loons winger Sang Bin Jeong, according to SportBladet, because MNUFC’s transfer fee of approximately $2 million has been deemed too high. Jeong, who just received his U.S. Green Card, might more likely be headed to another MLS club this summer. The South Korean has yet to score in 286 MLS minutes this season.

View >> Rookie goalkeeper Wessel Speel struggled in his MLS debut against San Diego, but head coach Eric Ramsay continued to speak highly of the 23-year-old Dutchman after the match. Actions will speak louder if he sticks with Speel over fellow back-up Alec Smir against Houston.

Projected starting XI >> In a 5-4-1 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Robin Lod, MF Wil Trapp, MF Owen Gene; LWB Anthony Markanich, CB Nico Romero, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Julian Gressel; GK Wessel Speel.

Update >> Pereyra returned from Argentina early this week and obtained his Green Card. In the short term: the timing of his trip might mean he is more likely to come off the bench Wednesday. In the long term: Pereyra will vacate an international roster spot, allowing the Loons to bring in another foreign player during the summer transfer window.

Scouting report >> Jack McGlynn, arguably Houston’s best player, is away with the U.S. men’s national team in the Concacaf Gold Cup. The 21-year-old was cutting open the Loons last month with a game-high 10 shot-creating actions, per FBref.com. United won’t miss him this month.

Prediction >> Ramsay has talked regularly about the Loons contending with the top of the Western Conference. They smacked into the ceiling again versus San Diego. This match is about creating distance from their floor. Loons come out victorious, 2-1.

— Andy Greder