THRILLER IN THE NORTHWEST: Seattle Sounders FC 2–3 Minnesota United FC

By Adam Luna

In a chaotic, high-octane battle at Lumen Field, Minnesota United FC edged out Seattle Sounders FC 3–2 in a gripping MLS encounter defined by momentum swings, own goals, and relentless late drama. Despite conceding a bizarre own goal in the 83rd minute that nearly flipped the script, the Loons held on with tooth and nail to secure a massive road victory, powered by a brace from the red-hot Tani Oluwaseyi and a cool penalty finish by Robin Lod.

FIRST HALF: GOALLESS GRIT AND MISSED CHANCES

The opening 45 minutes were a tense affair marked by plenty of fouls, five yellow cards, and a flurry of half-chances. Minnesota United struck first warning shots when Tani Oluwaseyi rattled the crossbar in the 9th minute, a thunderous left-footed effort from the center of the box (xG: 14%). Stefan Frei was called into action twice before the break, denying Julian Gressel from range and smothering Oluwaseyi’s low drive in stoppage time.

Seattle, too, had their moments — Paul Rothrock flashed two decent efforts over the bar, and Danny Musovski came close with a pair of headers, the better of which missed narrowly left in the 22nd minute (xG: 10%).

Despite the aggression — and the referee's liberal use of the whistle — neither side could break the deadlock before the interval. The Sounders’ fluid midfield combinations were often snuffed out by fouls from a robust Minnesota side, who were content to play direct and look for Oluwaseyi in transition.

SECOND HALF: GOAL EXPLOSION ROCKS LUMEN FIELD

The second half detonated like a powder keg. Just six minutes after the restart, Robin Lod threaded a delicate assist into the feet of Tani Oluwaseyi, who calmly dispatched a left-footed finish into the lower left corner from the center of the box (51', xG: 22%) to put the Loons ahead 1–0.

Seattle barely had time to adjust before disaster struck again. In the 54th minute, a moment of clumsiness in the box led to a Minnesota penalty after Jon Bell brought down Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Robin Lod stepped up and fired confidently into the bottom right corner (54’, xG: 77%), doubling the lead with a coolness that silenced the crowd.

But Seattle showed grit. Just one minute later, Obed Vargas and Pedro de la Vega linked up beautifully in a sweeping move that ended with Kalani Kossa-Rienzi smashing a left-footed strike from close range (55’) to halve the deficit. The goal was a bolt of energy for Brian Schmetzer’s side and shifted the momentum.

⚖️ MINNESOTA STRIKES BACK, SEATTLE RESPONDS... WITH A GIFT

The pendulum swung yet again in the 58th minute. Minnesota’s Joaquín Pereyra launched a hopeful ball into the danger zone, and Tani Oluwaseyi pounced, steering in his second goal of the match with a precise right-footed strike (58', xG: 42%) to make it 3–1. The Loons were cruising... or so they thought.

Seattle refused to go quietly. A stretch of relentless pressure followed, with a sequence of corners from Albert Rusnák testing Minnesota’s mettle. Georgi Minoungou missed narrowly in the 78th, and the Sounders’ threat kept growing.

In the 83rd minute, chaos unfolded. A curling corner from the left by Rusnák created panic in the box. As players scrambled for position, Minnesota center back Nicolás Romero inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net from close range (OG, 83'), gifting the Sounders a lifeline and reducing the margin to 3–2.

FINAL MINUTES: HEART-STOPPING DRAMA

The final 10 minutes — including six minutes of added time — were filled with crunching tackles, tactical fouls, and feverish Sounders attacks. Substitutes Georgi Minoungou and Osaze De Rosario drove the energy forward, winning key free kicks in dangerous areas.

But Minnesota’s defensive block, led by Michael Boxall and a determined Anthony Markanich, absorbed wave after wave of crosses and shots. There were contentious fouls — Robin Lod received a yellow card for a stoppage-time foul, while Danny Musovski was booked for a rough challenge just moments earlier. Even with set pieces in the dying moments, Seattle couldn’t find the equalizer.

MATCH STATS SNAPSHOT

• Goals:

  • Seattle: Kossa-Rienzi (55'), Romero (OG 83')

  • Minnesota: Oluwaseyi (51', 58'), Lod (54' pen)

• xG (expected goals):

  • Seattle Sounders FC – 1.36

  • Minnesota United FC – 1.74

• Total shots:

  • Seattle: 14 (4 on target)

  • Minnesota: 13 (5 on target)

• Yellow Cards:

  • Seattle: 2

  • Minnesota: 4

• Corners:

  • Seattle: 9

  • Minnesota: 2

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United FC)

Two goals, relentless pressure on the backline, and consistent movement off the ball. Oluwaseyi was the heartbeat of Minnesota’s attack and showed composure beyond his years.

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS

Minnesota head coach Eric Ramsay will be thrilled with the ruthless execution his team showed in front of goal, but concerned by the defensive lapses that nearly threw away a two-goal lead. As for Seattle, the comeback effort was valiant, but the lack of early finishing and defensive errors in the second half proved costly.

Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders remain in search of consistency in this campaign, while Minnesota United take all three points home — bruised, breathless, but victorious.