MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC gets back in the win column and rises up Western Conference standings with 3-1 victory over Minnesota

Seattle Sounders FC (3-5-1, 10 points) claimed three valuable points against Minnesota United FC (4-5-2, 14 points) with a 3-1 in front of 32,613 at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon. The victory was Seattle’s first after winning the 2022 Concacaf Champions League and the club’s first win in league play since April 2 at Minnesota, snapping a three-match losing skid in MLS. The points helped Sounders FC move from the bottom of the Western Conference into 11th place, three positions higher than when the day started. Due to their Champions League run, the Rave Green have multiple games in-hand on 12 teams in the conference, with two more matches coming over the course of the next week. 

Minnesota got on the board first in the 34th minute, taking advantage of a Nouhou mis-clearance inside his own 18-yard-box. Robin Lod pounced on the loose ball, slamming it into the back of Stefan Frei’s net for his fourth goal of the season and an early 1-0 Loons lead. 

After a first half of close attacking chances that misfired, Cristian Roldan helped get his team back into the match by drawing a penalty in the 49th minute, charging through Minnesota’s area and drawing a hard foul. Seattle striker Raúl Ruidíaz stepped to the spot and converted his attempt a minute later, good for his first MLS tally of 2022 and his 65th goal across all competitions since joining the club midway through 2018. 

Roldan once again put himself in the center of the action in the 74th minute of play, receiving a square ball roughly 30 yards from goal, setting himself on a half-turn and firing a blistering right-footed shot that gave Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair little chance of keeping pace. The long-range strike was Roldan’s second goal of 2022 and his 30th in MLS since being drafted in 2015. 

Club captain Nicolás Lodeiro added an insurance tally in second half stoppage-time, receiving a cross from Roldan on the right wing before converting an easy attempt at the far post. The strike was Lodeiro’s second in league play this season and his 51st in all competitions for the Rave Green. 

Currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference with just nine games played due to the club’s recent Concacaf Champions League campaign, Seattle prepares for a long climb back up the league table as MLS games begin coming fast and furious. Next week sees the Rave Green play two road contests, with Brian Schmetzer’s side traveling to face the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, May 18 (5:30 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM) before taking on the Colorado Rapids next Sunday, May 22 (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Sounders FC is now 3-5-1 and is in 11th in the Western Conference with 10 points. The win snapped a three-game losing streak in MLS league play.

• Seattle is now 9-1-1 all-time against Minnesota (including postseason play), including a 7-0-0 record at Lumen Field. 

• Raúl Ruidíaz scored his first MLS goal of the year and fourth across all competitions in 2022. His 65 career goals across all competitions since joining Sounders FC in 2018 rank second in club history (Fredy Montero, 73 goals).

• Cristian Roldan scored his 30th career goal in MLS play with today’s match-winner in the second half. His 34 goals for Seattle across all competitions rank seventh in club history, passing Lamar Neagle. 

• Nicolás Lodeiro scored his second MLS goal of the season and seventh across all competitions with his stoppage-time strike. It marked his 51st goal across all competitions for Sounders FC, ranking fourth in club history. 

• With an assist on Lodeiro’s goal, Roldan leads Sounders FC with eight assists across all competitions. His three helpers in league play are tied with Lodeiro for first on the squad.

• Following tonight’s contest, Roldan, Lodeiro and Jordan Morris are all tied for the team-lead with two goals apiece. 

• Coach Schmetzer deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation with a full 11 changes to the starting lineup from Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match vs. San Jose.

• After being cautioned in the first half, midfielder Obed Vargas is now suspended for Wednesday’s match at Houston due to yellow card accumulation. 

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Minnesota United FC 1
Sunday, May 15, 2022

Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Michael Barwegen
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Rosendo Mendoza
Attendance: 32,613
Weather: 55 degrees and rain

SCORING SUMMARY

MIN – Robin Lod 34’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (penalty) 50’
SEA – Cristian Roldan 74’
SEA – Nico Lodeiro (Cristian Roldan) 90’+4’ 

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Obed Vargas (caution) 10’
SEA – Xavier Arreaga (caution) 42’
MIN – Wil Trapp (caution) 49’
MIN – Oniel Fisher (caution) 52’
MIN – Kervin Arriaga (caution) 55’
MIN – Emanuel Reynoso (caution) 68’
SEA – Yeimar (caution) 90’+2’ 

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; Obed Vargas (Kelyn Rowe 61’), Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Josh Atencio 87’); Raúl Ruidíaz 

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Jimmy Medranda, Ethan Dobbelaere, Fredy Montero, Will Bruin

Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 10
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 3

Minnesota United FC – Dayne St. Clair; Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, Oniel Fisher (DJ Taylor 82’), Kemar Lawrence; Franco Fragapane (Bongokuhle Hlongwane 65’), Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod, Wil Trapp (Adrien Hunou 82’), Kervin Arriaga; Abu Danladi (Luis Amarilla 72’)

Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Jacori Hayes, Joseph Rosales, Niko Hansen, Michael Boxall

Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 10
Saves: 4