RECAP: Sounders fight to the very end, leave Minnesota with solid shutout

The Seattle Sounders left Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon with a point on the road following a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United.

The Sounders were on the front foot early when midfielder Albert Rusnák found forward Osaze De Rosario near the center of the six for a shot opportunity in the 5th minute, but Nicolás Romero’s sliding effort prevented the potential lead.

Then, in the 13th, defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi received the ball on the right flank after a Rusnák corner kick landed near the far post. From there, the University of Washington alum distributed a cross toward winger Georgi Minoungou who produced an uncontested header in front of goal, but it went over the net.

Minoungou continued to pressure Minnesota’s defense in the 30th minute, winning a 1-v-1 battle down the left flank before sending a driven ball across goal. Winger Paul Rothrock collected it in the center of the box and laid it back to midfielder Cristian Roldan, who struck it beautifully from the top of the area. But a fingertip save by Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender pushed the ball onto the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

One minute later, the home side nearly got on the scoresheet with a shot attempt from Kelvin Yeboah inside the eighteen, but it went wide right of the goal. 

Minoungou played another driven ball across the face of the goal in the 37th minute for a wide open De Rosario to tap in, but a last-second touch from Callender denied the goal for Seattle.

Yeboah had two chances to score for the Midwest side in the closing minutes of first half stoppage time, but the first attempt was saved by goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and the second was blocked by center back Jackson Ragen.

Similar to the first half, the Sounders came out strong in the second 45 as a set-piece delivery found Rothrock at the back post. His header sent the ball across goal to Nikola Petković, who attempted to redirect it with a header of his own, but it was saved by Callender.

In the 55th minute, Minoungou cut inside where he found space inside the box to strike the ball toward goal, but the near post effort was collected by Callendar.

Minnesota United was inches away from taking the lead in the 80th minute when James Rodríguez split Seattle’s defense for Anthony Markanich to get a left-shooted shot off, but he skied it over the net. 

Both sides had late chances in the final ten minutes, as Rusnák fired a near-post effort into the side netting, while Mamadou Dieng’s header struck the woodwork after a save from Thomas. However, neither team could find the finishing touch, and the match ended scoreless after 90 minutes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Unbeaten in March

With the draw against the Loons, the Sounders have closed out the month of March unbeaten in five matches.

Jordan Morris back

After suffering a quad strain in the Sounders first match of the season on Feb. 22, DP Jordan Morris returned to the pitch on Sunday as a second half substitute for De Rosario.

Dominant defense 

In addition to leaving Allianz Field with their fourth shutout of the year, the Sounders finished the match with 13 tackles, 11 interceptions, 27 clearances and 36 duels won.