Match Recap: Loons remain winless in Seattle after late night clash with Sounders

June 19, 2024
|In MLS, MNUFC, MNUFC Match Recaps
|By Ashle Paige
Action from MNUFC’s away defeat to Seattle Sounders on 16 June, 2024 (Photo courtesy of MNUFC)

Last weekend Minnesota United headed out west to face off with the Seattle Sounders. The Loons dealing with a depleted roster due to international call-ups and injuries, had their work cut out for them. With the Loons having never won, or even gained a point at Lumen Field the hosting 4-7-6 (W-L-D) Sounders were the favourites entering the match. The Sounders would send the Loons home once again with no points after taking a 2–0 win over Minnesota United.

Less than a minute into the match Alex Roldan and Devin Padelford went up for a header and knocked heads hard. After trainers attended to both players, a few minutes later they were each subbed out under concussion protocol. Paul Rothrock entering in the 7′ for Seattle’s Alex Roldan while Jordan Adebayo-Smith was subbed on for Minnesota just one minute later.

“Dev [Devin Padelford] is definitely a case of concussion, quite how severe will only become clear tomorrow,” manager Eric Ramsey said post match. “He’s okay but certainly a bit dazed.”

28 minutes into the match, Seattle struck their first of two on the night when on a free kick Albert Rusnák connected with Jordan Morris, who send a header into the open side of goal to put the Sounders up 1–0.

Down 1–0 after the break, Minnesota United was forced to make another early substitution as Michael Boxall came off and was replaced by Morris Duggan. Eric Ramsey stated post match the Boxall was subbed off due to an ankle injury.

Without Boxall leading the back line, the Loons defence struggled early in the second half. Culminating in a 57′ Paul Rothrock goal into the empty side of the goal after a well time pass from Léo Chú.

From there on the Sounders dominated the remainder of the match, but Minnesota’s defence held strong the remainder of the match. Late in the match however, Moses Nyeman was issued a yellow card after a bad tackle. Following VAR review the card was upped from a yellow to a straight red and with that, Nyeman will miss this Wednesday’s match in Frisco, TX against FC Dallas.

“We find ourselves at the moment in a really difficult situation, a situation we knew would leave us wanting in certain situations as has been the case tonight,” said Eric Ramsey. “I think the big thing for us now is that we’re very positive, very constructive, we recognize the situation we’re in, what we’ve got and we try and meet the challenges that come our way head on as we always do.”

The loss put MNUFC down to 0–9 all time at Lumen Field, having never gained a single point in the Emerald City since joining Major League Soccer. NSJ Editor Bridget McDowell gathered some eight word reactions from the fans following the tough Loons loss.

The Loons are back in action again on Wednesday as they travel to Frisco, TX to face FC Dallas in their first of two matches this week. After facing off with the former Dallas Burn, the Loons head back out west for a clash in the Rose City with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Both matches are on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV with Wednesday night’s match being free for viewers.

“We will regroup on Monday morning and we will see what we’ve got, we will see who is in what state and we will have a good look at the opposition [FC Dallas] and we will review our game against them from last week,” Eric Ramsey told the media on Saturday night. “We will put together what we feel will be the best course of action to go and tackle that game and that’s all we can do in this situation.”

Brian Schmetzer Eric Ramsay Jordan Morris MNUFC Paul Rothrock Seattle Sounders