Match Preview: MNUFC vs Seattle Sounders AGAIN

If it feels like it’s been a month since Minnesota United FC played a match, you’re not wrong. It’s only been three and a half weeks, but it does feel like a month since MNUFC beat Necaxa on the back of Dayne St. Clair’s 16 saves. While Minnesota became the first Leagues Cup team to win a group stage game and not advance to the knockout, the Seattle Sounders progressed to the quarterfinals. Last Saturday, the Sounders were eliminated from the Leagues Cup with LAFC getting a 3-0 win at Lumen Field.

Speaking of Seahawks Stadium, errr Qwest Field, I mean CenturyLink Field — my bad, Lumen Field, Minnesota United has played there twice this season. The MLS regular season match and Leagues Cup match both ended in 2-0 Loons losses.

On Saturday, August 24, Minnesota United look to reverse those results and that of history as the Sounders visit Allianz Field. The match will be available on FOX, for free on Apple TV, and via AM 1500 The Score for radio coverage. While coverage starts at 5:30 pm, expect a 5:54-ish pm (Thanks, Fox) kickoff.

Form (W-L-D)

MIN: 9th in West (33 pts, GD -1), 9-10-6 (Home: 5-4-4), Last 5 (all competitions) W-L-W-L-D

SEA: 7th in West (37 pts, GD +5), 10-8-7 (Away (4-6-2), Last 5 (all competitions) L-W-W-L-W

Series: MNUFC (W-L-D)

Overall: 1-13-2

MLS Regular Season 1-11-2

MLS Home: 1-3-2

MLS Cup: 0-1-0 (2020 Western Conference Finals)

Leagues Cup: 0-1-0

Prior to MLS, the Minnesota Thunder and a different Seattle Sounders franchise played plenty in the USL First Division (now USL Championship). In the USL First Division, the Thunder held a slight edge 12-11-5 (W-L-D) while Seattle beat the MN Thunder in the 2003 US Open Cup.

Availability

MNUFC
OUT: Tani Oluwaseyi (hamstring)
Questionable: None

New designated player Joaquín Pereyra is still in Argentina completing paperwork.

MNUFC2 attacker Loïc Mesanvi has been signed to a first team contract through December 2025 with club options for 2026 & 2027. The 20-year-old Togolese player was raised in Lakeville, MN.

Seattle
OUT: Braudilio Rodrigues (hamstring)
Questionable: Cody Baker (wrist), Jackson Ragen (head)

Also, the Seattle Times reports, “Sounders midfielder Pedro de la Vega won’t start Saturday but will play, according to coach Brian Schmetzer. The change means Paul Rothrock or Léo Chú, could get the nod for the slot on the wing,” and the Sounders “will have Jackson Ragen available to play. He was under concussion protocol this week.”

Key Players

For Seattle, designated player Albert Rusnák will be the puppeteer pulling the strings. He has 4 goals and 11 assists. Jordan Morris and Raúl Ruidíaz lead the goal scoring with 9 and 8 goals respectively. In the last two matches against the Loons, Morris and 25-year-old Seattle native Paul Rothrock have 2 goals each. João Paulo and Cristian Roldan add more skill on the ball in Seattle’s attack. Stefan Frei is the Sounders captain and long-standing goalkeeper. While the Sounders

For Minnesota, Robin Lod leads the team in goal contributions with 6 goals and 11 assists. Bongokuhle Hlongwane has 7 goals and 4 assists. Sometimes midfielder, usual left back, Joseph Rosales has 41 key passes, the most of any Loon (Lod has 37). Rosales and Michael Boxall need to contribute on defense to help keep Seattle’s offense off the scoreboard. Expect Dayne St. Clair to be hungry for a win, coming off a 16-save victory and probably wanting to prove he still has more saves in him than a southern gospel revival.

Loons Miscellany

Minnesota United has been busy in the MLS summer transfer window. All players acquired are 25 years old or younger.

• July 18: English left wing Samuel Shashoua (also has Spanish and Venezuelan heritage) from Albacete Balompié
• July 27: Ghanian Italian striker Kelvin Yeboah (designated player) from Genoa CFC
• July 29: Colombian centerback Jefferson Díaz from Deportivo Cali
• August 5: Slovakian right back Matúš Kmeť from AS Trenčín
• August 14: Argentinian midfielder Joaquín Pereyra (designated player) from Club Atlético Tucumán
• August 14: Filipino American left back Anthony Markanich from St. Louis City SC
• August 23: Loïc Mesanvi from MNUFC2

In addition to Mikael Marqués being loaned to Västerås SK and Derek Dodson to Birmingham Legion, MNUFC has the following loan and trade updates:

• August 8: traded Caden Clark to CF Montréal for $50,000 GAM (General Allocation Money) and Montréal’s natural 2nd round pick in the 2025 SuperDraft.
• August 9: loaned Patrick Weah and Molik Jesse Khan (MNUFC2) to HB Køge in Denmark.
• August 9: loaned Morris Duggan to Rhode Island FC of USL Championship (US tier 2)
• August 12: purchased Alejandro Bran (who was on loan from Herediano) and loaned him to Burton Albion of League One (England tier 3).
• August 20: Ethan Bristow returns from loan to Stockport County FC due to a lower spine fracture and will miss the rest of the season

Fair Play

We at NSJ would like to remind you that in addition to the earlier kickoff and FOX broadcast, there are other reasons to plan for an early arrival. This is the opening weekend of the Minnesota State Fair. Expect Snelling Ave. and Como. Ave. to be congested. MN Highway 36, MN Highway 280, Interstate 94, and the surrounding area will be busier than normal.

"For multiple reasons this is really big one for us."#MNUFC | @DrinkBODYARMOR pic.twitter.com/T077KVlIKX

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 22, 2024

On June 15, MNUFC went to Lumen Field and lost 2-0 with a goals by Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock. On July 26, MNUFC went to Lumen Field and lost 2-0 with goals by Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock. Eric Ramsay and Minnesota United hope to reverse the trend at Allianz Field this Saturday. It’s playoff push time with nine MLS matches to go. Northland Soccer Journal will be there, and you should join us.

Northland Soccer Journal thanks our Patrons for supporting our coverage.
If you would like to support independent soccer media, subscribe to NSJ on Patreon.