MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington
05.15.2022 | MLS Week No. 11 | MLS Game No. 11
3:00 p.m. CT (ESPN and MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN)

What was supposed to be a Wednesday night match turned into a Thursday afternoon showdown in St. Paul due to storms that rolled through and wrecked havoc at Allianz Field. In the end, the Loons were able to secure a 2-1 win with a late Reynoso goal to push them into the round of 16 for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. MNUFC will need to rest up quickly because they will be back on the pitch this Sunday in Seattle. In 2022, the Sounders have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. They became the first MLS team in history to win the CONCACAF Champions League, yet have struggled to find the same success in their regular season MLS games. Currently, the Sounders have a record of 2-5-1, landing them in 13th place out of 14 in the Western Conference. While Seattle has historically had the edge on the Loons, their advantage as of late has been just that, a slight edge. In their three most recent matchups, the winner between MNUFC and Seattle was decided by a single goal. Hopefully the Loons make the most of their trip out west and are able to gain another crucial three points.

ADRIAN HEATH ON PREPARING FOR THE SEATTLE GAME ON SUNDAY...

“Well one thing I do know, you don’t feel as tired when you win. Hopefully, you know we fly out tomorrow and we will get a couple of days to relax and do a little light session on Saturday because it’s a big game on Sunday. It’s never easy going to Seattle for sure.” MORE

MICHAEL BOXALL ON GOING TO SEATTLE SOUNDERS AND NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LUMEN FIELD...

“We need to freshen up after today and we need to stick to what we’re really good at. We need to be a little bit more clinical with our passing all over the field, and certainly in the final third. It’s one of the places where if you don’t go, play really well and finish off your chances, it’s tough to get a result. When we went there the beginning of last season [season opener], I thought we played par for par for about 50 to 60 minutes, and they score a bomb out of nowhere and then a few mental lapses and the game is done. It’s not good enough to do it for 60 minutes, you need to show up for the full 90. There’s been a few appearances where we’ve been in good spots against this team and they come back very late. They’re a team that never gives up. We need to be on it for 90 minutes.” MORE

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

• GET IN FORMATION: In Minnesota’s U.S. Open Cup match against Colorado Rapids, not only did the weather force a dramatic two-day affair with goals scored 16 hours apart in the same match, but Adrian Heath revealed a new formation. After the Loons had consistently set up in a 4-2-3-1 for the majority of the MLS regular season, Heath chose to use a 3-4-3 setup for this affair, with all three of Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman and Michael Boxall on the pitch as a trio of centerbacks, Oniel Fisher and D.J. Taylor as wingbacks, Joseph Rosales and Kervin Arriaga in midfield, and Franco Fragapane and Adrien Hunou flanking Abu Danladi in the front three. The Loons eventually won the game 2-1 thanks to a late strike from Emanuel Reynoso off the bench. Minnesota had 57.6% possession in this game, which would be their highest mark in any matchup against MLS opposition this season. Their 84.6% pass completion would also be their highest of any such game. Could this be a preview of something to be used in future matches? MORE

FIRST TOUCHES

• Despite their international success, the Sounders are currently 13th of 14 teams in the Western Conference, tied with Vancouver for the lowest point total in the league thus far (7).
• Dayne St. Clair is now top-five in the league with 36 saves made. He has appeared in eight league matches, and no other goalkeeper has 30 or more saves with fewer than ten appearances.
• In 2004, Seattle Sounders Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez played on the Minnesota Thunder with MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee. In 2006, he was on the Thunder’s roster alongside Brian Kallman, the brother of current Loon Brent Kallman. MORE