The Sounders lack execution in game one of their MLS playoff series with Minnesota.

Sounders lose 3-2 in a penalty shoot

The Seattle Sounders checked off most of the boxes in their scouting report against Minnesota, except one. Unfortunately, that last unchecked box was the most important one. That is, get the ball in the back of the net. The preferred plan was to score in regulation. If not, plan  B was to outscore the homeside in the penalty portion.  The Sounders did neither and now find themselves one game down in the best-of-three series with the Minnesota Lunes.

A team that was going to succeed in possession and counterattack. The  Loons and Sounders played each other twice in the regular season, with Minnesota winning both games. On Monday night, both teams stayed true to their DNA.  Minnesota succeeded in possession, and the  Sounders stayed compact and dared  Seattle to break them down.

With Jordan Morris up top, Albert Rusák behind him, Jesus Ferreira to his right, and Paul Rothrock to his left, the strategy was to move the ball down either flank and find pockets to exploit for quick shots. Morris nearly gave the Sounders a dream start two minutes into the game, but it was not to be, thanks to a save from Loons goalkeeper Dyne St Clair. Morris shot from the right side of the goal, forcing St Clair to act. Four minutes later, Yeimar Gomez headed the ball over the crossbar after a cross from Rusnak.

LOONS   HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY

The home side nearly took the lead on a counterattack that saw  Loons striker  Bongokuhle Hlongwane break free after a give-and-go with midfielder Robin Lod. Sounders center back Jackson Ragen tracked back and forced Hlongwane to shoot wide. A miscommunication between  Rothrock and Yeimar forced a goal-line clearance by Alex Roldan. The Sounders remained resolute in defense and regained the possession battle. The Sounders had 66% of the possession but managed just two shots on goal.  The first half ended with both sides feeling confident that their strategies were working.

SOUNDERS START THE SECOND HALF ON THE FRONT FOOT.

 Alex Roldan nearly gave the Sounders the coveted goal 53 minutes into the second half. A Ferreria to Rusnack pocket combination found a streaking Cristian Roldan, who received the ball from Rusnák and forced a spectacular save from St. Clair.   A   slide rule pass into the Loons’ goal box found a wide-open Danny Musvoski, who forced another jaw-dropping save by St. Clair. In the 89^th minute, Joaquín Pereyra’s left-footed free kick just missed the Sounders’ goal box. 4 minutes later, Musvoski had another golden opportunity to smash a grab for the Sounders. A Morris cross found the streaking Musoviski, who headed the ball just wide of the goal. The lack of finishing became a recurring nightmare for the Sounders.

“If you look at some of the chances that we created and we created a lot, you know, Albert’s set piece in the first half, that Yiemar just heads over the bar on the corner kick. Albert had another one on a free kick,’ Said Schmetzer after the game. “
You know, the first half, corner kick, Christian heads it, and their guy is on the end line, and saves it on the end line. We had plenty of chances. “

UNPREDICTABLE PENALTIES

After the final whistle, the game went straight to penalties, and just like in regulation, the Sounders were unable to get the ball into the back of the net.  Only Rusnak and Ragen converted their penalty opportunities. Alex Roldan kicked the ball right to St. Clair, while Danny Leyva and Cristian Roldan each hit the post. The Loons, Kelvin Yeboah, Nectarious Trianti, and Joaquin Pereyra each converted their penalties to give the Loons the victory.  For Schmezer, the lack of execution during the penalty shootout was a complete surprise.


”You know, and last year, we were lights out in our penalty kick shooting. And we have practiced penalty kicks for the last two weeks, and it surprised me that guys that usually are lights out, you know, tonight missed,” said Schmetzer.  “So maybe tonight just wasn’t going to be our night.”

POST GAME NOTES

MATCH NOTES

• Minnesota takes a 1-0 series lead in the Round One best-of-three series with the result. Game 2 will be played on Monday, November 3 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:45 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, SiriusXM FC 157, El Rey 1360 AM). If necessary, Game 3 would take place on Saturday, November 8 at Allianz Field with time and broadcast information to be announced.

• The Rave Green are now 14-3-3 against Minnesota in all competitions, including a 1-0-1 mark in postseason action.

• Seattle has a 25-16-10 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs since the club joined the league in 2009, tied with the LA Galaxy for the most wins of any team in that span, reaching four MLS Cup Finals (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) and winning two titles (2016, 2019).

• Stefan Frei made his 37^th postseason appearance tonight (all with Seattle), the most postseason appearances of any active player in Major League Soccer. Cristian Roldan is second with 33 appearances.

• Yeimar Gómez Andrade made his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury on September 27 against Vancouver.

• Brian Schmetzer made four changes to the lineup from last Saturday’s regular-season finale against NYCFC, with Yeimar, Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan and Paul Rothrock replacing Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, João Paulo, Danny Leyva and Pedro de la Vega, respectfully.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 (2) – Minnesota United FC 0 (3)

Monday, October 27, 2025

Venue: Allianz Field

Referee: Alexis Da Silva

Assistants: Jason White, Andrew Bigelow

Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos

VAR: Greg Dopka

Attendance: 16,945

Weather: 50 degrees and cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

None

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

MIN – Dayne St. Clair (caution) 10’

MIN – Bongokuhle Hlongwane (caution) 30’

MIN – Michael Boxall (caution) 65’

MIN – Nectarios Triantis (caution) 83’

MIN – Joaquín Pereyra (caution) 90’+3’

SHOOTOUT SUMMARY

SEA – Albert Rusnák (score)

MIN – Kevin Yeboah (score)

SEA – Alex Roldan (miss)

MIN – Nectarios Triantis (score)

SEA – Jackson Ragen (score)

MIN – Joaquín Pereyra (score)

SEA – Cristian Roldan (miss)

MIN – Julian Gressel (miss)

SEA – Danny Leyva (miss)

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas (Danny Leyva 90’+3’), Cristian Roldan; Jesús Ferreira (Danny Musovski 72’), Albert Rusnák, Paul Rothrock (Georgi Minoungou 81’); Jordan Morris

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Jonathan Bell, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Reed Baker-Whiting, João Paulo, Osaze De Rosario

Total shots: 15

Shots on goal: 14

Fouls: 16

Offside: 1

Corner-Kicks: 6

Saves: 3

Minnesota United FC – Dayne St. Clair; Anthony Markanich, Nicolás Romero, Michael Boxall, Jefferson Diaz (Julian Gressel 90’+6’); Wil Trapp (Owen Gene 82’), Nectarios Triantis; Joseph Rosales (Kelvin Yeboah 71’), Joaquín Pereyra, Bongokuhle Hlongwane; Robin Lod (Hassani Dotson 71’)

Substitutes not used: D.J. Taylor, Alec Smir, Morris Duggan, Mamadou Dieng, Dominik Fitz

Total shots: 11

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 11

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 5

Saves: 3