Goalless draw with Minnesota  stretches Sounders’ unbeaten streak to five games

Seattle Sounders FC continued their road show with another disciplined, gritty defensive effort, earning a goalless draw against Minnesota United. The draw stretched the Sounders’ unbeaten streak to five games in all competition. The draw was the fourth consecutive MLS road game for the Sounders  who beat the Vancouver Whitecaps  2-1 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF   Champions Cup. The game was played in Spokane and considered a home game for the Rave Green.

SHUFFLED LINED UP

Sunday’s match with the Loons saw head coach Brian Schmetzer rotate his lineup, with Andrew Thomas, Antino Lopez, Nikola Petković, Paul Rothrock, and Georgi Minoungou replacing Stefan Frei, Jackson Ragen, Snyder Brunell, Jesús Ferreira, and Paul Arriola.

The Sounders dominated the possession in the 1st half but were unable to get a shot on goal. Which seems like an oxymoron.  In soccer, the two can be true, with one misleading when paired with the other. The Sounders’ lack of offensive production was due to the Loons’ back line, which was fortified by a bank of four midfielders. A leg injury to Alex Roldan in the 17^th minute forced Schmetzer to replace him with Jackson Ragen.  While they were unable to muster a shot, the Sounders had an opportunity to get the early goal in the 27^th minute.

EARLY CHANCE

Minoungou dribbled down the left touchline, then laid a pass across the box that was deflected to a waiting Rothrock, who was unable to muster a shot but laid the ball off to Cristian Roldan, who rifled a right-footed shot that was deflected off the crossbar by Loons keeper Drake Callander for the corner. The Sounders’ second chance of the half came in the 39^th minute.  Minoungou made another dash to the touchline and laid another slide rule pass across the Minnesota goal. The pass was intended for a wide-open DeRosario, who was sprinting on the far right post for a sure tap-in had Callander not brushed it away.

MINNESOTA  FINISHES THE HALF DOMINATING THE SOUNDERS

A tactical switch by Minnesota head coach Cameron Knowles gave his team a foothold in the game and left the Sounders scrambling to keep the clean sheet as the half ended. Knowles moved his midfield back to four further up the field to support striker  Kelvin  Yeboah, who grew into the game.  Joaquin Pereyra’s speed and Nectarios Triantis’ deft passing, coupled with Tomas Chancalay’s pace, put the Sounders backline on its heels in the last 15 minutes of the first half. A spectacular diving save by Thomas and a sliding block by Ragen saw the Sounders limp into the dressing room for the halftime break with a clean sheet.

SOUNDERS FORTIFY  

  The halftime break saw the Sounders regain their composure on defense, which led to more ball possession. Unlike the first half, the Sounders generated some shots.   Cristian Roldan pushed further up the field, which gave Rusnack, Minoungou, Rothrock, and Minougou more options in the attacking third.  What was lacking was the final pass between and behind the Loons’ fortified double back of four middle fielders and a five-backline.

Schmetzer made a triple sub in the 64^th minute, looking for a breakthrough that would deliver the game’s first goal. Snyder Brunell replaced  Petkovic,  Jordan Morris was inserted for De Rosario, and Minougou gave way to Jesus Ferreria.  The subs gave the Sounders attack an instant spark.  Kossa-Rienzi had a half-chance that went wide of the goal, and the Sounders generated six second-half shots, two of which were on goal.

“We got the ball into the primary assist zone, but the delivery was lacking. We could have taken longer shots,” said Schmetzer in his post-game press conference.  

 MINNESOTA  MAKES MEANINGFUL CHANGES

Minnesota head coach countered Schmetzer’s substitutions with three of his own. Den Padelford was inserted for Nicolas Romero, Mamdou Dieng replaced Yeboah, and newly signed Colombian international James Rodriguez replaced Tomas Chancalay in the 77^th minute. Rodriguez showed his skill when he fed Anthony Markanich with a deft pass into space, but the shot went begging when Markanich skied it over the bar.

“They are a good counterattack team, and they make it difficult to break their lines. Said Kalani Kossa-Reinzi. We can be better in that attacking third,” 

The Sounders closed out the game without scoring or conceding a goal, extending their unbeaten streak to five games. In his postgame interview Schmetzer said tha Alex Roldan’s injury was a hip pointer which was not a serious injury.

MATCH NOTES

• At time of writing, Seattle sits in fifth place in the Western Conference following today’s result with 10 points (3-1-1).

• Sounders FC now holds a 12-3-3 all-time record against Minnesota, including a 4-2-3 mark at Allianz Field.

• Andrew Thomas recorded his fourth shutout in five league games this season, tied for second in MLS.

• The Rave Green have kept a clean sheet in five of their seven matches in all competitions in 2026, allowing just three goals.

• Jordan Morris made a substitute appearance in the 65^th minute, his first appearance since injuring his quad in the first match of the season.

• Today’s match marked Cristian Roldan’s 399^th all-competition appearance for the club. The midfielder is looking to join Stefan Frei as the only players in club history with 400 all-competition appearances.

• Brian Schmetzer rotated his lineup from Wednesday’s 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup match against Vancouver, with Andrew Thomas, Antino Lopez, Nikola Petković, Paul Rothrock and Georgi Minoungou replacing Stefan Frei, Jackson Ragen, Snyder Brunell, Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola.

• The Rave Green now have a week off for the FIFA March international break before traveling to Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, April 4 at Shell Energy Stadium (5:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Minnesota United FC 0

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Venue: Allianz Field

Referee: Jon Freemon

Assistants: Ryan Graves, Ben Pilgrim

Fourth Official: Timothy Ford

VAR: Daniel Radford

Attendance: 19,637

Weather: 37 degrees and cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

None

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Nikola Petković (caution) 38’

SEA – Antino Lopez (caution) 38’

MIN – Jefferson Díaz (caution) 47’

SEA – Jesús Ferreira (caution) 65’

SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 67’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Alex Roldan (Jackson Ragen 22’), Antino Lopez, Nouhou; Nikola Petković (Snyder Brunell 65’), Cristian Roldan – Captain; Paul Rothrock, Albert Rusnák, Georgi Minoungou (Jesús Ferreira 65’); Osaze De Rosario (Jordan Morris 65’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Cody Baker, Peter Kingston, Paul Arriola

Total shots: 11

Shots on goal: 2

Fouls: 13

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 7

Saves: 2

Minnesota United FC – Drake Callender; Jefferson Díaz, Michael Duggan, Nicolás Triantis (Owen Gene 90+1’), Kipp Keller Duncan (Bongokuhle Hlongwane 73’); Wil Trapp, Nicolás Romero (Devin Padelford 77’); Joaquín Pereyra, Tani Oluwaseyi, Anthony Markanich (Jeong Rodríguez 77’); Kelvin Yeboah (Mouhamadou Dieng 77’)

Substitutes not used: Carlos Harvey, D.J. Taylor, Julian Gressel, Alec Smir

Total shots: 6

Shots on goal: 2

Fouls: 9

Offside: 1

Corner-kicks: 4

Saves: 2