Just by looking at the box scores, you'd start to think Minnesota United FC had lost their offensive magic. They've scored just three goals in three games - two of them penalties, one a free kick, none from open play. That's led to their worst stretch of the year in the results; three games without a win, including their first loss of the fall season. A terrible 1-1 draw at New York was followed with a loss at Edmonton and a draw at home with Tampa Bay, and now San Antonio has crept ahead of Minnesota in the standings; United now trails by four points in the fall table, and one point in the combined spring & fall standings.

The games themselves, though, paint a different picture. The highlight reels are filled with United chances that have skidded just wide or glanced off the woodwork; Christian Ramirez, the league's leading goal-scorer, has been especially snakebitten. If the goal were a couple of feet wider on either side, United would have won its last two games, and Ramirez would have about five more goals to his credit.

Minnesota has controlled possession and outshot its opponents. Head coach Manny Lagos spoke of pain following United's 1-1 draw with Tampa Bay. "It hurts," he said. "The ball’s not quite bouncing our way, and we’re playing some good soccer. We should be finishing our chances and we’re not."

Perhaps tonight's visit from Fort Lauderdale can get Minnesota untracked. United put three past the Strikers in both of the meetings between the two this year. Simone Bracalello, Ramirez, and Miguel Ibarra scored in the first game; Daniel Mendes, Ramirez, and Ibarra scored in the second. It's an almost complete list of the players that Minnesota needs to find the magic scoring touch, beginning with tonight's game.

United's squad will likely be the same as last week, with backup striker Rafael Burgos still gone with the El Salvador national team on Copa Centroamericana duty. He's scored twice in three games for El Salvador, who play Panama tonight in the competition's third-place match. On the injury front, defensive midfielder Juliano Vicentini took a knock in training this week, but is expected to play tonight.

Minnesota has gone to a keeper rotation over the past few games, and if that continues, it would be Mitch Hildebrandt in goal tonight. No changes are likely to the team's back line, nor is the all-conquering Ramirez likely to leave the lineup up front, but the midfield poses an interesting question. Sometime SoccerCentric analyst Bill MK looked at this dilemma, over at The Loon Call, and came to the conclusion that Minnesota needs to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, rather than pushing Ibarra out to the wing and bringing Aaron Pitchkolan and Greg Jordan forward. If the team does revert to the 4-2-3-1, then Jamie Watson or Bracalello might come in for Jordan, in order to run the left wing.

The difference for United, though, might not come from creating more chances. All Minnesota might need to do is finish the ones that they get.