Sounders suffer first loss of the season with 1-0 defeat at Minnesota

POST GAME NOTES

• With the loss, Seattle’s unbeaten streak to begin the 2021 season ends at 13 matches. Coming into today’s contest, Seattle was 8-0-5 on the year, setting a league record for the best start to a season (four clubs had previously reached the 12-match unbeaten mark to begin a season).

• The Rave Green last lost in the regular season on November 1, 2020, a 1-0 defeat at Colorado.

• Despite the club’s first loss of the campaign, Sounders FC remains in first place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with 29 points, three points ahead of Sporting Kansas City. The Rave Green and Sporting face off in a week’s time at Lumen Field on Sunday, July 25. Seattle also maintains the lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, two points ahead of New England for the best record in MLS.

• Today’s loss is Seattle’s first defeat in MLS to Minnesota United FC. Prior to today, Sounders FC was unbeaten in eight all-time meetings (7-0-1) against Minnesota (including postseason play). The Rave Green opened the 2021 season with a 4-0 win over the Loons at Lumen Field on April 16.

• Starting goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made his ninth start of 2021. Since Stefan Frei departed the lineup due to injury, Cleveland is 4-1-4 in goal for Seattle. Sounders FC is tied for first in MLS with six shutouts, level with Philadelphia.

• Sounders FC signed Tacoma Defiance players Samuel Adeniran and Obed Vargas to a Short-Term Agreements, making them available on the bench for today’s match at Minnesota. International callups and injuries to players on Seattle’s roster made the club eligible for Extreme Hardship. As a result, the Rave Green signed the two players from the club’s USL Championship affiliate to short-term loans for Sunday’s match. Adeniran made his MLS debut with an 85^th-minute substitute appearance.

• Kelyn Rowe made his first start of the season at right wingback, replacing Alex Roldan, who is away on international duty with El Salvador. Rowe has appeared in every game this season, with 10 total starts.  

• Receiving a yellow card in the 64^th minute, centerback Xavier Arreaga earned his fifth caution of the season. With that latest booking, the Ecuador National Team player is set to miss Seattle’s next match at Austin FC on July 22 due to yellow card accumulation.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Minnesota United FC 1

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Venue: Allianz Field

Referee: Alan Kelly

Assistants: Eric Weisbrod, Jeremy Kieso

Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson

VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.

Attendance: 19,679

Weather: 86 degrees and sunny

SCORING SUMMARY

MIN – Robin Lod (Niko Hansen, Emanuel Reynoso) 81’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Danny Leyva (caution) 13’

SEA – Yeimar (caution) 18’

MIN – Emanuel Reynoso (caution) 64’

SEA – Xavier Arreaga (caution) 64’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Xavier Arreaga, Brad Smith (Josh Atencio 69’), Yeimar, Abdoulaye Cissoko (Ethan Dobbelaere 8