MATCHUP QUICK FACTS
- Minnesota and Seattle did not face each other in the 2020 regular season prior to meeting in the Western Conference Final. After the season opener, they will have only faced each other in 2021.
- After defeating MNUFC 3-2, the Sounders went on to lose 3-0 to Columbus Crew SC in the MLS Cup Final — the first ever three-goal margin in the Final.
- Seattle became the first team to come from two goals down to win in regulation in the playoffs since Real Salt Lake defeated Columbus Crew SC 3-2 in 2009.
- Gustav Svensson, who nodded home the game-winning goal against MNUFC in the 93rd minute, now plays for Guangzhou City in China.
- Svensson came off the bench in the 77th minute for his first action of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Emanuel Reynoso became the first player in MLS history to notch three assists in back-to-back games in the playoffs.
- After those games against Colorado and SKC in the playoffs, Emanuel Reynoso got one more helper against Seattle to set an MLS playoff record with seven assists in the postseason.
- The Loons are 0-6-1 against Sounders FC since joining MLS. The one draw came at Allianz Field on May 4, 2019 with both teams scoring one goal.
- Minnesota United are now 2-2-0 in season openers after losing their first two and winning their last two.
- Prior to their meeting in the Western Conference Final in 2020, the last time Minnesota and Seattle met in the postseason was the 2003 USL A-League Western Conference Final. The Minnesota Thunder defeated the Sounders 2-0 on aggregate. MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee appeared in both legs of the series for the Thunder.
- MNUFC have never opened the season at home.
MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS
- Osvaldo Alonso played for Sounders FC for 10 seasons. He made 277 regular season appearances and captained the team to win four U.S. Open Cups, the 2014 Supporters’ Shield and the 2016 MLS Cup.
- Kelyn Rowe and Hassani Dotson both hail from Federal Way, Washington.
- MNUFC Assistant Coach Mark Watson played for Seattle during its USL days, donning the Sounders’ green in 1997.
- Tyler Miller was in the Sounders FC organization from 2015 through 2017. He started his tenure with Sounders FC 2 and backed up Stefan Frei on the first team in his final two seasons with the club.
