The Seattle Sounders fell to Minnesota United 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw on Monday night in Match 1 of the Round One, Best-of-3 series in the MLS Cup Playoffs at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.
Minnesota had a golden opportunity in the ninth minute when Bongokuhle Hlongwane was played in behind on a breakaway, but a last-second intervention from Jackson Ragen forced Hlongwane off balance, and his effort trickled just wide of the far post.
Nectarios Triantis had a chance in the 17th minute on a recycled throw-in where he let loose from 25 yards out, but it sailed wide of the near post.
One minute later, Hlongwane got position inside the six-yard box and tried to direct a shot to the far post, but Alex Roldan cleared it off the line.
In the 20th minute, the Loons peppered the Sounders defense yet again when Joseph Rosales unleashed a striker from the right side of the box that was whipping toward the far, upper corner but crept wide.
Seattle had its first good look in the 22nd minute when Cristian Roldan redirected a header on a corner kick that was destined for goal, but Nicolás Romero was on the goal line to clear it away.
Paul Rothrock hit an attempt over the crossbar in the 29th minute after a beautiful interplay in the final third between Albert Rusnák and Jordan Morris, who set up Rothrock’s shot with a cheeky backheel.
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was forced into a great save in the 41st minute when Triantis struck one from a tight angle looking for the far post, but Frei reacted quickly to parry it away.
Dayne St. Clair made a spectacular save of his own on Roldan in the 54th minute when Roldan let loose a strong, left-footed effort from just inside the box that the Canadian international pushed away to his left.
St. Clair made another big-time save in the 80th minute when Morris slipped in Danny Musovski right in front of goal, but St. Clair made a brilliant reaction save to send it out for a corner.
The Loons nearly found the match-winner in the 90th minute when JoaquÃn Pereyra hit a free kick from 30 yards out that whistled past the top corner.
Seattle almost found the lead itself in the first minute of stoppage time when Morris played a cross in for Musovski, but he couldn’t keep his powerful header from going over the bar.
Morris cut a ball back to the center of the box for Georgi Minoungou in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but it was blocked out of play for a corner.
The match finished scoreless and went directly into penalty kicks to determine a winner.
Rusnák stepped up for the Sounders in top half of the first round and scored before Kelvin Yeboah answered.
Alex Roldan had his effort saved by St. Clair to open the second round before Triantis scored to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.
Ragen calmly buried his attempt to even the shootout 2-2 in the third round before Pereyra retook the lead for the Loons.
Cristian Roldan hit the crossbar to start the fourth round before Julian Gressel hit the post himself to give the Sounders a lifeline.
Needing to score to stay alive, Danny Leyva rattled his shot off the left post to give the Loons a 3-2 shootout win and a 1-0 series lead.
Round One, Match 2 Tickets On Sale Now
Head to Lumen Field on Nov. 3 to watch the Sounders face Minnesota United in Match 2 of the Round One, best-of-three series of the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs!
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Another postseason shutout
Frei earned his 15th career postseason shutout, which is second in MLS history. The 2016 MLS Cup MVP was excellent all evening, recording three big stops.
Familiar territory
The Sounders drew both of their matches against the Houston Dynamo in last year’s First Round series and won each match on penalties. Seattle will hope it can rebound should it head to penalties again in the series.
Game Two awaits
The Sounders will welcome the Loons to Lumen Field next Monday (7:45 p.m. PT; FS1, FOX Deportes, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) for Game Two of this Best-of-Three First Round series. Game Three, if necessary, would be back in Minnesota on Nov. 8.
