ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - Playing its first match inside newly-constructed Allianz Field, Seattle Sounders FC (5-1-4, 19 points) earned a valuable road point against Minnesota United FC (4-3-3, 15 points) in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,832. In a 1-1 draw, Cristian Roldan scored his 16th career MLS goal in stunning fashion, hitting a belted shot off a volley in the waning moments of first-half play, securing a point for the Rave Green. Saturday's match marked the first time that the Rave Green faced former captain Osvaldo Alonso as a member of an opposing team. Alonso is Seattle's all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes played, after signing with the club prior to its 2009 inaugural MLS season. The midfielder joined Minnesota this offseason following 10 memorable seasons in Seattle, where he was a five-team club MVP (2010-2013, 2016), a four-time MLS All-Star (2011-2014) and the winner of six major club titles.
Minnesota got off the blocks in the 26th minute of play, courtesy of a Jan Gregus free kick from just outside of Seattle's area. The lofted ball into the area found the head of Ike Opara, who converted the chance to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
After creating a number of scoring opportunities in the first half, Sounders FC earned its equalizer on a belted shot from Roldan in the 42nd minute. After Brad Smith launched a cross from the left flank into Minnesota's area, a loose ball found Roldan's right foot off the volley, resulting in a thunderous shot from 25 yards out that beat United goalkeeper Vito Mannone at his near post. Leveling the score at one goal apiece, the strike was Roldan's second of 2019 in 10 games played, and his 16th goal in five seasons of MLS play.
Forwards Raúl RuidÃaz and Will Bruin each made their return from injury by coming on as substitutes on Saturday. RuidÃaz had missed the last five games with a heel contusion, while Bruin was out the last three with as strained hamstring. Bruin nearly gave Seattle a late winner when his header hit the post in the 81st minute.
Following tonight's match in the Midwest, Sounders FC returns to CenturyLink Field for a showdown against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, May 11. Kickoff for that contest in Seattle is slated for 7:00 p.m. PT, with regional coverage being provided by JOEtv, YouTube TV, Sports Radio 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
MATCH NOTES
- Today's match marked Seattle's first visit to Allianz Field, Minnesota United's new state-of-the-art facility that opened in April. With tonight's results, Sounders FC moves to 4-0-1 all-time against the Loons in MLS play.
- Sounders FC now has 19 points through 10 games and sits tied for third in the Western Conference with the Houston Dynamo. Brian Schmetzer's side is now 1-1-2 on the road this season. The 19 points are tied for the third-best start through 10 games in club history, while this is the first time Seattle has lost just once in its first 10 fixtures to start a season.
- Cristian Roldan scored his second goal of 2019 in the 42nd minute of the match, leveling the score at 1-1. For Roldan, the strike was his 16th in his MLS career dating back to his rookie season in 2015.
- Saturday's contest marked the first time that the Rave Green faced former captain Osvaldo Alonso as a member of an opposing team. Alonso is Seattle's all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes played after signing with the club prior to its 2009 inaugural MLS season. All told, Alonso helped Sounders FC to four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups, the 2014 MLS Supporters' Shield and the 2016 MLS Cup in a decade of service for the club. His 339 appearances across all competitions are just 13 shy of Zach Scott for the most in Sounders history dating back to 1974.
- Saturday marked the return of several Sounders to Brian Schmetzer's 18-man lineup, with VÃctor RodrÃguez (concussion) and Chad Marshall (right knee inflammation) both rejoining the starting XI from their recent injuries. Raúl RuidÃaz (right heel contusion) and Will Bruin (left hamstring strain) returned to action on Saturday as substitutes, while Nouhou (left ankle sprain) was also included on the bench.
- Roldan's goal was the lone shot on goal for Seattle on Saturday, marking the sixth time in club history that Sounders FC scored on its only shot on target of the match. The Rave Green are 0-2-4 in those games.
- Defender Saad Abdul-Salaam made his first start of his Seattle career on Saturday night, getting the nod at right fullback in place of the suspended Kelvin Leerdam. Abdul-Salaam signed with Sounders FC following preseason training camp after stints with New York City FC (2018) and Sporting Kansas City (2015-2017). Leerdam was sent off stoppage time of last Sunday's match against Los Angeles FC.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Minnesota United FC 1
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Venue: Allianz Field
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistants: Brian Dunn, Cory Richardson
Fourth Official: Guido Gonzales Jr.
VAR: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 19,832
Weather: 67 degrees and partly sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
MIN - Ike Opara (Jan Gregus) 26'
SEA - Cristian Roldan 42'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
MIN- Jan Gregus (caution) 45'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Brad Smith; Jordy Delem, Cristian Roldan, Handwalla Bwana (Will Bruin 60'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, VÃctor RodrÃguez (Raúl RuidÃaz 85'); Jordan Morris (Román Torres 79')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Nouhou, Harry Shipp, Alex Roldan
Total shots: 7 (C. Roldan, 2)
Shots on goal: 1 (C. Roldan, 1)
Fouls: 8 (Three players, 2)
Offside: 6 (Morris, 5)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Lodeiro, 5)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)
Minnesota United FC - Vito Mannone; Romain Metanire, Ike Opara, Brent Kallman, Eric Miller; Jan Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso, Rasmus Schuller (Darwin Quintero 76'); Ethan Finlay (Romario Ibarra 68'), Angelo Rodriguez, Miguel Ibarra
Substitutes not used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Michael Boxall, Kevin Molino, Hassani Dotson, Lawrence Olum
Total shots: 12 (Three players, 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 16 (Rodriguez, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 9 (Gregus, 9)
Saves: 0
