> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Preview: Sounders Draw Defensive-Minded Minnesota in First Round - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-sounders-minnesota-loons-mls-playoffs-preview-first-round/ - Published: 2025-10-24T23:31:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:17:42.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: News, Analysis, Sounders, Brian Schmetzer, Cristian Roldan, Obed Vargas, Pedro de la Vega, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Paul Rothrock, Danny Leyva, Stefan Frei, Alex Roldan \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"\] ![ Original photos via Sandra Agbotse (Sounders FC Communications) and Joe Serci (AP). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/mls-cup-first-round-thumbnail-format-original.jpg) Original photos via Sandra Agbotse (Sounders FC Communications) and Joe Serci (AP). \[/caption\] It was never going to be easy for the Seattle Sounders to make it out of a stacked MLS Western Conference. But when the fifth-seeded Rave Green drew Minnesota United, the weight of the task became clear as day. Seattle will need to beat the Loons twice in three tries after going 0-2 against Minnesota this season, as the sides are matched up in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, set to begin with Game 1 on Monday, October 27\. Seattle finished fifth in the west, one of its lower standings under skipper Brian Schmetzer, while Minnesota clinched the fourth spot. Both teams have been dealt blows to their attacks since they last met, and the wealth of experience they have against one another already has each squad wondering how to gain a slight tactical advantage before they even take the field in what promises to be a tight series. \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"\] ![ Original photos via Andy Witchger (Minnesota United FC Communications) and Mike Fiechtner (Sounders FC Communications). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/sounders-vs-min-tale-of-tape-format-original.jpg) Original photos via Andy Witchger (Minnesota United FC Communications) and Mike Fiechtner (Sounders FC Communications). \[/caption\] ### Minnesota Overview (16-8-10, LWDLL) While the Loons didn't close the season playing their best, Minnesota has stayed true to its identity for the entire season. That identity is simple on a basic level: Allow opponents to possess the ball for large chunks of the game and strike in transition or on set pieces while leveraging a five-man backline. True to that identity, Minnesota scored its sole goal in the 73rd minute of its Aug. 16 matchup with Seattle on a corner-kick situation. Sounders wing Paul Rothrock didn't press the passer, Joaquín Pereyra, hard enough, leading to a shot that slipped through Seattle's line to decide the game. Seattle had chances to get back into it, but was quickly familiarized with Dayne St. Clair — Minnesota's stalwart in the net. St. Clair would come up with four tough saves as Seattle's 16 shots and 2.0 xG weren't enough to generate even a single goal in the 1-0 loss. Minnesota also blocked three shots playing their five-man backline, which has included all-around defensive menace Michael Boxall, who is one of the best shot-blockers and efficient clearers of the ball in MLS. Alongside Boxall has been Wil Trapp (top-15 in interceptions) and another elite tackler in Anthony Markanich. Markanich has also been an elite offensive piece, scoring nine goals on just 5.1 xG this season. As a team, Minnesota's 135 blocked shots rank seventh, while their 316 interceptions are top-10\. As billed, the Loons' 39 percent season possession rate is dead-last in MLS to bait transition chances. When teams get shots through, the combination of a well-connected back five and the top-ranked save rate of St. Clair (79.9 percent) combine to give Minnesota the third-best defensive overperformance metric in MLS. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/minn-united-2025-defensive-overperformance-format-original.png) Their strategy has been tested as of late, though — Minnesota has managed just four points in its last five matches to land in fourth out west. Minnesota lost its final game to an ailing LA Galaxy side, 2-1. In its traditional offense, forward Tani Oluwaseyi has been the guy for Minnesota United this season with his team-high 10 goals. The problem? He plays in Spain now. The Canadian forward pulled in a club-record transfer fee in late August to move to La Liga side Villareal, as the Loons' offense has gone from averaging 1.45 xG per game while Oluwaseyi was rostered to 1.20 in the six games since his transfer. But as we know with this team, lower xG rarely means fewer goals. In terms of injuries, the Loons have been dealt some tough blows but received some positive updates on striker Kelvin Yeboah. Yeboah, whose nine goals are tied for second-most on the team, returned briefly as a substitute in the Galaxy game after missing over a month with injury. While he should be ready to go for the Sounders series, expect a bit of rust for the star forward. So that's the top two xG generators on Minnesota United, either gone or likely rusty for a date with a renewed Sounders defense. Still, this side finds the net in unlikely ways. In the club's best win since Oluwaseyi's transfer, United took down eventual No. 1-seeded San Diego FC 3-1 despite generating just 0.7 xG. This is reflective of an overall trend with the Loons this season — Minnesota's +5.1 advantage on actual goals minus xG is top-five in MLS. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/minn-united-2025-offensiveoverperformance-format-original.png) Long story short, it'll be up to Seattle to stay disciplined in not giving away set-pieces in scoring position — cold-blooded takers like Pereryra can land you in the world of pain that has put Minnesota United in the middle of the above graph. ### Sounders Overview (15-9-10, WWWDL) Opposite of Minnesota's stout defense is a Sounders offense that's finding itself again. Once a team that scored 24 goals in seven matches during their red-hot run to a Leagues Cup title, Seattle has looked more like its typical self this fall. The Sounders grinded out two 1-0 wins over Real Salt Lake and Portland before taking a 2-1 win over NYCFC that saw starting striker Jordan Morris head in his first goal since July. Defense is the name of the game in the playoffs, but it was encouraging to see both Morris and centerback Jackson Ragen leverage headers off set pieces to win that game, as Seattle looked a bit like Minnesota in its opportunistic offense. Know-how is typically a factor in any playoff series, and the Sounders are as prepared in that sense as any team in the league. With holdovers from both MLS Cup-winners in 2016 and 2019 like Cristian Roldan, Stefan Frei and Morris all starting, Seattle should deal with the high-pressure moments well. Since the MLS introduced the best-of-three format for the first round in 2023, the Sounders are 4-1 overall and even overcame two penalty shootouts against Houston last year to sweep the Dynamo. That said, this will be the first time Seattle plays in this format without home-field advantage. Still, there are aspects of Seattle's game that allowed Minnesota to take the season sweep. For one, the Sounders haven't been the best against set-piece chances overall, as Schmetzer has pointed to "soft goals" as a recurring issue with his squad. That term has shown up in the Sounders giving away free kicks in scoring position and turning the ball over in crucial spots — see Danny Leyva's turnover leading to an equalizer against NYCFC. As far as defensive errors go (mistakes that lead to an opponent getting a shot off), Seattle's 27 are the sixth-highest in MLS. While the Sounders are well past giving up penalty kicks left and right like they did in the middle of the summer, Minnesota is one of the last teams you want to make one big mistake against in your own third. Schmetzer’s crew is taking into account that they may need to change things up in this series. The nine-year veteran coach told media this week that a variety of formation alternatives to the usual 4-2-3-1 alignment will be looked into, including matching Minnesota's five-man backline, like Seattle did in that 1-0 loss, or experimenting more with an unproven two-striker look to punch through that wall. Seattle has used that look just twice to start MLS matches this season. In terms of injuries, the Sounders have a few key players to monitor in the lead-up to Monday's duel. Alex Roldan has filled in at centerback for an injured Yeimar and has been dealing with a hip issue that's kept him limited at practice, but he is expected to be ready. Yeimar, who has missed the past month with a hamstring injury, is "100 percent" according to Schmetzer, giving the Sounders their best dueler and defensive leader back for a run where they will likely be missing Kim Kee-hee (calf) at the reserve centerback. The biggest missing piece will be on the left wing, as Leagues Cup MVP Pedro de la Vega suffered a fractured patella against NYCFC and will miss the next six months. With Ryan Kent trending toward being back, Seattle should have some depth to work with on the wings, considering guys like Georgi Minoungou, Paul Rothrock and Jesus Ferreira, but there's no denying they'll miss de la Vega's quality on the ball. Look for Ferreira and star forward Albert Rusnák to be leaned on for nifty passing to connect this talented attack. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/musovski-xg-per-90-2025-format-original.png) At the striker, Morris got on the board for the first time since July on a header against NYCFC, but trails reserve striker Danny Musovski in scoring. Musovski finished the 2025 regular season as Seattle's top scorer with 14 goals and closed the season among the likes of Lionel Messi and Brian White as the best xG generators per 90 minutes (0.81). Seattle will need to generate opportunities against a stiff Minnesota backline, so Schmetzer will need to find ways to involve Musovski now that Morris has a firm hold on the starting spot. This is where perfecting that double-striker look in training will be imperative — it would give Schmetzer another option to integrate Musovski back into this offense. Despite all that's been made about Seattle's offense this season, the defensive midfield tandem of Obed Vargas and Cristian Roldan has easily been a top unit in MLS. Both rested in the NYCFC game, but each has made the most of October. Vargas, 20, was just named a finalist for Young Player of the Year and just finished a tour at the U-20 World Cup with Mexico, in which he started most games and has gained international interest, including European sides. Roldan, meanwhile, is coming off a two-assist game with the U.S. Men's National Team in a friendly and is trending toward making the World Cup cut next season at 31\. He trailed only Inter Miami star Sergio Busquets in tackles on challenges this season and will be a key piece in winning duels for Seattle as usual. Having those two guys rested is a luxury, as they have been reliable quality starters who do the dirty work in the midfield. ### The Verdict: Avoid the One Big Turnover, Stay Disciplined on Set Pieces The numbers are there: Minnesota doesn't want the ball. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/mls-possession-minn-and-sea-2025-format-original.png) The Loons have never tried to fool anyone in that regard, and Schmetzer confirmed that he expects the same in this series as Minnesota will look for decisive opportunities in transition and on set pieces. Pereyra's ability to put free-kick shots on goal and Minnesota's aptitude to find the net on long throw-ins as well has Schmetzer messaging simply to his team: do not foul in scoring positions. Especially considering that Minnesota's traditional scorers look a lot different than when the Sounders last saw them in August, taking away easy looks will be the name of the game for Seattle. While Seattle has certainly slowed down on the offensive end, its consistent defensive efforts on set pieces lately in keeping high lines will benefit them more than an overactive offense against a team like Minnesota. That said, the Sounders offense will need to be relentless. Expect St. Clair to take goals off the board that would normally go through, as guys like Rothrock and Morris will need to continue to push the needle with their work rate while Rusnák and Ferreira will need to make even more key passes with de la Vega out of the picture. If Seattle needs a goal late and has worn down Minnesota, Schmetzer cannot hesitate to put Musovski in the game for his finishing ability, which is simply unparalleled in Seattle right now. ### Series Forecast This is a 1-1-1 series, meaning the Sounders will need to play at Minnesota twice if this round goes to three games. Seattle's presence on the road this season has been mediocre at best, with a 5-8-4 record as opposed to a 10-1-6 mark at home — the Sounders’ last MLS loss at home was on June 1 against Minnesota, of all teams. Still, the Sounders will lean on their homefield advantage to either clinch or extend this series in Game 2, and leaving the result to a decisive Game 3 in Minnesota, where the Loons are 8-5-4, isn't ideal. But having two bites at the apple could be just what Schmetzer's staff needs to decipher Minnesota with changes to the formation. Look for the Sounders to come out aggressive in Minnesota in Game 1, expending their rested pivots and bringing on Musovski and Georgi Minoungou for dynamic offense early if the game is tied in the second half. ### Prediction: Sounders Take Series in Three Games Experience and form will be the deciders in this one, and Seattle’s got Minnesota beat in both. It’s hard to see a world where Seattle drops this series if it takes Game 1 in Minnesota, so if you’re the type of fan to not put stock in opening games, I’d throw that notion to the wind in this case. I forecast a three-game series, because Seattle has made the key mistakes Minnesota preys on consistently in the late stages of the season, and I expect at least one to cost Seattle a game here. Outside of that, Seattle’s more talented at enough positions, especially with Oluwaseyi gone, to be able to escape this series and stay perfect in the best-of-three era.