MINNESOTA UNITED AT SAN JOSE, 9:30 P.M. TODAY

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Minnesota United forward Tani Oluwaseyi (14) fields a pass as CF Montréal midfielder Ousman Jabang (15) defends during a game at Allianz Field in St. Paul on March 1. JOHN AUTEY — PIONEER PRESS

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When: PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.

Where: 9:30 p.m. today

Stream: Apple TV MLS Season Pass/Apple TV+

Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500

Weather: 58 degrees, clear skies, 5 mph east wind

Betting line: San Jose plus-135; draw plus-250; MNUFC plus-175

Form: San Jose leads the Western Conference at 2-0-0 with a plus-5 goal differential. MNUFC (1-1-0) earned its first win, 1-0, over CF Montreal in its home opener on Saturday.

Key stats: Minnesota did not allow a shot on target to Montreal; it was the fourth time MNUFC has not allowed a single shot on goal since joining MLS. They last did it against D.C. United and San Jose during the 2022 season.

Breakdown: Loons head coach Eric Ramsay said the long stretches of defending against Montreal translated into good counter attacking chances. “Across the league in the first two games we are in the top two or three for counter attacking shots (expected goals or xG) of counter-attacking chances,” he said.

Recent matchups: The Loons won both matches against the last-place Earthquakes in 2024. MNUFC is 7-5-4 all-time against San Jose.

Absences: Joseph Rosales (quad) and Kipp Keller (hamstring) are out. Loic Mesanvi (ankle) and DJ Taylor (hamstring) are probable after returning to training this week.

Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Kelvin Yeboah, FW Tani Oluwaseyi; MF Robin Lod, MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp; LWB Anthony Markanich, CB Morris Duggan, CB Michael Boxall, CB Carlos Harvey, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Quote: Ramsay wants to incorporate more rotation into the squad this season — that’s why Lod started and Trapp came off the bench vs. Montreal — and Ramsay is looking ahead to the ramifications of the first international window from March 18-26.

“My responsibility as a coach is to look at the possibility of a 50-game season we’ve embarked on and the periods where we are missing players due to (international duties),” he said. “I don’t want to be reliant on 12, 13 players. I want to make sure there is at least 17, 18 that feel like they are in good rhythm. Then 20, 21 who feel like they are connected to what is happening from the bench.”

Storyline: United has scored one goal across two games; San Jose had six players tally one goal apiece in two matches, including scores from new forwards Cristian Arango and Josef Martinez.

Prediction: San Jose’s expected goals against (xGA) is 3.3, so they have given up some quality scoring chances. MNUFC will lament not finishing chances early in the match, akin to the 1-0 loss to LAFC, but will come away with a point in a 1-1 draw.

— Andy Greder