San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas does not want his team to get ahead of themselves after a strong start, with a trip to Minnesota United next up in MLS.

San Diego have been the surprise package of this year's MLS season, sitting second in the Western Conference on 30 points, just five behind leaders Vancouver Whitecaps.

They have lost just one of their last seven matches, bouncing back from their narrow defeat to the Seattle Sounders by beating Austin FC 2-0 last weekend.

But Varas has urged his side not to lose sight of their goals despite their impressive start to life in MLS.

"We've got to keep our feet on the ground, all the time," he said. "When things aren't going well in the short term, you've got to keep composure and work as hard as you can to turn things around.

"We can't get too high or too low, and our ultimate goal is to go for the playoffs and not going beyond that.

"It's about establishing consistency in what we're going to do. We've touched some pretty good highs, but now we've got to do that across the rest of our games, and then we'll be in a good spot."

Minnesota are also flying high, though, sitting just below San Diego in the table, having also accumulated 30 points.

The Loons are unbeaten in their last four outings, holding on to earn a 3-2 win over the Sounders two weeks ago.

Minnesota will be without key players in the next month due to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but head coach Eric Ramsay his team can maintain their position.

"We have to make sure that when the group comes back together [after the Gold Cup], this time we have managed to keep our place towards the top," he said.

"When we get those guys back, it's a 13 or 14 game season that we can really attack if we've managed to keep our pace and keep hold of our position.

"It'll be an exciting finish to the year, but we don't get to that point unless we can show that resilience and discipline."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Robin Lod

All three goals Minnesota United scored in its win over Seattle on June 1 were scored in a span of seven minutes (51’, 54’, 58’), the fastest Minnesota has ever scored three times in a regular-season match.

With Tani Oluwaseyi, who scored the first and last goals during that span, at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Robin Lod, who scored the second, has the chance to step to the fore.

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

Only Lionel Messi (17) has more goal contributions than Anders Dreyer (14, tied with three others) this season.

Dreyer has contributed to at least one goal in 10 matches this season, tied for the most in MLS.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota United have won three of their last four matches against expansion sides (L1), but their last meeting with an MLS newcomer was a 2-1 home defeat to St. Louis City SC in September 2023.

Minnesota have lost only one of their last 12 home matches in all competitions dating back to last season (W7 D4). The Loons have scored at least three times in five of those 12 matches.

Meanwhile, San Diego have won five of their seven regular-season matches (D1 L1) since the beginning of May, including a 2-0 win over Austin FC on May 31. San Diego have conceded only three goals over those seven matches, the fewest in MLS over that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 50.3%

Draw – 25.2%

San Diego FC – 24.6%