Minnesota United FC 3–3 Seattle Sounders FC (Minnesota wins 10–9 on penalties): A Playoff Epic in St. Paul

By Alonso Contreras

In one of the most dramatic matches of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Minnesota United FC advanced to the next round after an unforgettable 10–9 penalty shootout victory over the Seattle Sounders. The third match of the Round 1 series at Allianz Field ended 3–3 in regulation, and after a nerve-wracking sequence of 20 spot-kicks, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair became the unlikely hero, scoring the decisive penalty and saving one in a night of high emotion and tension.

The game itself was a rollercoaster from the opening minutes. Seattle struck first with ruthless efficiency. In just the fifth minute, Albert Rusnák opened the scoring with a sharp right-footed finish to the lower right corner after a clever link-up with Danny Musovski and Nouhou Tolo. Only three minutes later, Musovski doubled the lead, turning home from the center of the box with an xG of 72%, stunning the home fans and giving Seattle early control.

Minnesota, however, showed resilience. Joaquín Pereyra brought them back into the game in the 19th minute with a perfectly executed free kick that curled into the top right corner, cutting the deficit to 2–1. But the Loons’ momentum was halted in the 41st minute when Joseph Rosales was sent off for violent conduct, leaving Minnesota to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

Despite being down a player, Adrian Heath’s men refused to yield. In the second half, the Loons displayed extraordinary grit. Jefferson Díaz equalized in the 62nd minute with a brave header into the lower left corner following a well-placed cross by Morris Duggan. Then, just nine minutes later, the comeback was complete when Anthony Markanich powered in another header off a Joaquín Pereyra corner to make it 3–2.

Seattle, though, is never out of a fight. The Sounders poured forward in the closing stages, creating waves of pressure. Jordan Morris finally broke through in the 88th minute, finishing from close range after a clever assist from Cristian Roldán. The 3–3 scoreline set up a dramatic finish, with both teams coming close to a winner before the whistle forced the game into penalties.

The shootout turned into an instant classic. The first ten penalties were converted with surgical precision by both sides. Veterans like Rusnák, Roldán, Boxall, and Lod all held their nerve. But as the sequence extended into sudden death, the pressure intensified. Both keepers, St. Clair and Andrew Thomas, made key saves and even stepped up to take penalties themselves.

In the 20th and final kick, with the score 9–9, Thomas struck the crossbar, giving Minnesota the chance to win. Up stepped St. Clair, who coolly sent his opposite number the wrong way with a left-footed finish into the bottom corner to clinch the 10–9 triumph.

The stadium erupted as the Loons celebrated one of the most thrilling wins in club history. Down a man, against a veteran Seattle side, they had survived waves of pressure, produced moments of quality, and outlasted their opponents in an extraordinary shootout that will live long in MLS playoff lore.

Final Score: Minnesota United FC 3–3 Seattle Sounders FCMinnesota wins 10–9 on penalties

Goals:

• 5’ Albert Rusnák (SEA)

• 8’ Danny Musovski (SEA)

• 19’ Joaquín Pereyra (MIN)

• 62’ Jefferson Díaz (MIN)

• 71’ Anthony Markanich (MIN)

• 88’ Jordan Morris (SEA)

Man of the Match: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC) – The goalkeeper was a hero twice over, saving in the shootout and scoring the winning penalty to send Minnesota into the next round.

Minnesota now advances to the MLS Conference Semifinals, carrying the confidence of a team that has battled through chaos and come out stronger. For Seattle, it’s heartbreak again in the playoffs—this time decided by the width of a crossbar.