MINNESOTA UNITED FC v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC - MLS CUP - ROUND OF 16 - GAME 3 - SIMPSON STREET, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

“[Jimmy Gabriel’s] commitment to the team was never in question.” McAlister told the story of Jimmy, at age 40, playing in a reserve game with the younger players. “He broke his nose and had to have it strapped to his face for the rest of the game,” recalled McAlister. “People in the stands are going, ‘Are you kidding me, he’s doing this in a reserve game?’”

– Frank MacDonald recounting the words of Seattle Sounders and United States defender, Jimmy McAlister

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders make the trip north once again to the land of 10,000 lakes. This match will decide the MLS Cup Round of 16 cup tie, by either goals from the run of play, or by a penalty-kick tie-breaker which in this instance would actually be used for its intended purpose: Determining who advances in a cup tournament. I know, shocking, right?

What: MLS Cup Round of 16 Game 3, Minnesota United FC v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Simpson Street, St. Paul, Minnesota.

When: 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Saturday 8 November 2025 CE.

At Stake: The winner or the team that, in the event of a draw, hits more penalties in the tie-breaker, advances. The loser or team that, in the event of a draw, hits fewer penalties in the tie-breaker, is eliminated. Simple as.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

It’s been a long road, Green Fam. 49 matches in all competitions. One more result. Just one more gets us to the Quarter-Finals. The energy at Royal Brougham Park on Monday night was absolutely crackling everywhere, in a way that could not be measured with existing technology. It was glorious.

Fair is fair though, and the Loons finished with the better record, so the deciding match of the tie will be in St. Paul. If you have the means and the time, get yourself out to the Simpson Street ground and link up with whatever components of ECS are at the match. For those of us here in The Evergreen, in Seattle, Tacoma, The Kitsap, The Dryside, The Heartland, Fog Citeh, or wherever ye may find yourself on Saturday afternoon, link up with your mates if at all possible. Pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. We lend every bit of psychic energy not required to keep us alive to our lads away. For on this day, Saturday 8 November, there will be no second chance. We must all strive in our own way to not let the side down. To focus the energy of every wonderful moment that made us shout, chant, cheer, sing, laugh, and grin into an outpouring of love that cannot help but chuff up our lads. This is what we must do. This is the way.

It’s MLS Cup football under the afternoon sun at Simpson Street. Two teams enter. One advances. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

A very good fine artist, who helps kids fight cancer, whilst being one of the best goalkeepers in

the league. I present to you, your Sounders FC Humanitarian of the Year, Stefan Frei.

The Good News

We hit four goals against the Loons on Monday night on the way to victory. That’s gotta be a good sign, and also relieved the psychological pressure ours were under, as we hadn’t before then turned Minnesota over.

Sounders have not lost since 21 September at Austin FC’s McKalla Place ground. Since then, our record has been 4-2-0. Contrast that with Minnesota United’s current form of 1-2-2 in their last five matches, and then it appears that the tide is turning in this cup tie.

Aggregate goals between Sounders and Minnesota in all competitions are level at six goals each. Before Monday night’s match, Minnesota held a 4:2 lead in aggregate goals over three matches.

Apparently everyone is fit and eligible for selection except for Arriola and de la Vega who are both recovering from knee surgery.

Musovski is back in the team, and scored a goal to boot! Oh happy day!

We have a strong attack led by Danny Musovski (14 goals, 4 assists), Albert Rusnak (11 goals, 10 assists), and a revitalised Jordan Morris (5 goals, 2 assists). Add to that Paul Rothrock and Jesus Ferreira (4 goals, 7 assists each), with playmaking aided by Cristian Roldan (1 goal, 9 assists). All goal contributions listed here are from league play only.

The Bad News

The fact that MLS sees a 0:0 draw followed by the Loons winning a penalty-kick shootout and Sounders FC defeating Minnesota 4:2 from the run of play as somehow equal (with a “win” awarded to each team) is absolutely terrible. This needs changing - soon. If MLS must have a prolonged best-of-three cup tie for MLS Cup, then at least use a points system (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss) or aggregate goals system, and then use extra-time, and THEN AND THEN ONLY a penalty-kick tie-breaker in the event that points or goals are level at full-time of the third match.

If I had one criticism of Monday’s victory, it would be our centre-halves getting caught out in the two goals we conceded in injury time of the first half. Our lads need to not push up in attack to the point where they cannot make an effective recovery run to defend the break.

Although Oluwaseyi has flown the nest, Minnesota still has a balanced and formidable attack led by Markanich and Yeboah (9 goals each). Pereyra (6 goals, 11 assists) can hurt you with a goal or a killer pass, as can Finnish international Robin Lod (5 goals, 6 assists). They combine this with the 3rd best defence in MLS, having conceded only 39 league goals. They were also US Open Cup Semi-Finalists.

Both teams score at about the same rate (difference of 0.08 goals/match) and concede goals at about the same rate (difference of 0.07 goals conceded/match) in all competitions. So by the numbers, it’s a crapshoot. As it often is in MLS.

De la Vega (broken patella) is lost for the season and underwent successful knee surgery on 21 October. We’ve lost a bit of class and quality that can’t truly be replaced. Mend soon, Pedro.

The Side I Would Select

The lads should be plenty rested, so I would re-select the lot that won on Monday in the (a 4-1-2-1-2 on paper) shifted around 4-2-3-1.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

DM     Cristian

LM       Ferreira

RM     Vargas

CAM   Rusnak

LCF     Musovski

RCF    Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Why, barring injury or fatigue, would you change a winning selection?

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Ferreira

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Officiating.

The Referee for Saturday afternoon’s cup tie will be Victor Rivas.

MIN record with Rivas as Ref: 4-4-4

SEA record with Rivas as Ref: 3-3-1

A seed of doubt.

We broke the Loon’s hold on us on Monday with our first victory against them this season. They’ve got to be feeling just a bit less invincible than when the cup tie started on 27 October.

Ramsay Effect.

Minnesota United Manager Eric Ramsay (Swansea City, Shrewsbury Town, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Wales) has the more prestigious resume compared to our Gaffer, and became the youngest coach to earn a UEFA Pro License. That said, Sounders have dominated Minnesota United in league play with an all-time record of 12-2-3. Sounders are 4-2-2 when playing the Loons at St. Paul. However, most of those matches were with Adrien Heath in charge (Burnley, Sheffield United, Coventry City, Austin Aztex, and Orlando City). It sets up an irresistible force versus immoveable object type of matchup. It’s gonna be a cracker.

We are being outspent:

SEA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €1.45M

MIN 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €10.8M

General notes on personnel

Minnesota United transfers IN:

Keller (FC Cincinnati) re-entry draft

Trapp - re-signed

Romero (Atletico Tucuman) €1.95M

Jung (Gwangju) €995,000

Gene (Amiens) €2M

Gressel (Inter Miami CF) free

Randell - reserves

Speel - reserves

Fitz (Austria Wien) €2M

Triantis (Sunderland) €2.5M

Dieng (Hartford Athletic) €257,000

Michel (Alajuelense) €1.11M

Farina (Cerro Porteno) loan

Minnesota United transfers OUT:

Marques (Vasteras) €500,000

Bacharach (Rhode Island) free

Dodson (DC United) draft

Fragapane (Union Santa Fe) free

Irwin - released

Nyeman (Loudoun United) free

Valentine - retired

Weah (Atlanta United FC Reserves) free

Tapias (Guadalajara) €960,000

Bran (Alajuelense) (Burton Albion) loan

Pukki (HJK Helsinki) undisclosed

Bristow - released

Kmet (Gornik Zabrze) loan

Adebayo-Smith (Detroit City) loan

Jeong (St. Louis City SC) €1.37M

Padelford (St. Louis City SC) loan

Speel (Shelbourne) loan

Keller (New Mexico United) loan

Michel (Alajuelense) loan

Oluwaseyi (Villarreal) €8M

Bran (Alajuelense) undisclosed

Comparison against common opponents

LAFC 1:0 MIN

MIN 0:1 LAFC

SEA 5:2 LAFC

LAFC 4:0 SEA

(against LAFC: MIN 0-0-2 -2, SEA 1-0-1 -1) edge SEA

SJ 0:1 MIN

MIN 4:1 SJ

SJ 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

(against SJ: MIN 2-0-0 +4, SEA 1-1-0 +1) decisive edge MIN

SKC 3:3 MIN

MIN 3:0 SKC

SKC 2:3 SEA

SEA 5:2 SKC

(against SKC: MIN 1-1-0 +3, SEA 2-0-0 +4) edge SEA

MIN 2:2 LAG

LAG 2:1 MIN

LAG 0:4 SEA

SEA 2:2 LAG

LAG 0:2 SEA LC

(against LAG: MIN 0-1-1 -1, SEA 2-1-0 +6) decisive edge SEA

MIN 2:0 RSL

RSL 1:3 MIN

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:0 RSL

(against RSL: MIN 2-0-0 +4, SEA 1-0-1 -1) decisive edge MIN

NYC 1:2 MIN

NYC 1:2 SEA

(against NYC: MIN 1-0-0 +1, SEA 1-0-0 +1) even

MIN 0:0 DAL

DAL 1:2 MIN

DAL 0:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 DAL

(against DAL: MIN 1-1-0 +1, SEA 2-0-0 +2) edge SEA

MIN 1:3 VAN

VAN 0:0 MIN

VAN 3:0 SEA

SEA 2:2 VAN

(against VAN: MIN 0-1-1 -2, SEA 0-1-1 -3) marginal edge MIN

ATX 0:3 MIN

MIN 1:1 ATX

MIN 1:2 ATX USOC

SEA 2:0 ATX

ATX 2:1 SEA

(against ATX: MIN 1-1-1 +2, SEA 1-0-1 +1) marginal edge MIN

MIN 4:1 MIA

MIA 3:1 SEA

SEA 3:0 MIA LC

(against MIA: MIN 1-0-0 +3, SEA 1-0-1 +1) marginal edge MIN

HOU 2:0 MIN

MIN 3:1 HOU

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

(against HOU: MIN 1-0-1 0, SEA 1-1-0 +2) edge SEA

MIN 3:0 STL

STL 1:2 MIN

MIN 3:2 STL USOC

STL 1:0 SEA

SEA 4:1 STL

(against STL: 3-0-0 +5, SEA 1-0-1 +2) decisive edge MIN

MIN 2:4 SD

SD 1:3 MIN

SD 3:0 SEA

SEA 1:0 SD

(against SD: MIN 1-0-1 0, SEA 1-0-1 -2) marginal edge MIN

POR 1:1 MIN

MIN 1:1 POR

POR 1:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 POR

(against POR: MIN 0-2-0 0, SEA 1-1-0 +1) edge SEA

MIN 1:2 COL

COL 1:1 MIN

COL 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:3 COL

(against COL: MIN 0-1-1 -1, SEA 0-2-0 0) marginal edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Minnesota as they lined up against us in the Sounders’ 4:2 victory at Royal Brougham Park on 3 November.

GOALKEEPER

Dayne St. Clair, 28

Canada (17/0)

Notable Clubs: Minnesota United FC (135/0), San Antonio FC (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.8M

Notes: Developed by North Scarborough FC, Pickering FC, Ajax SC, and Vaughan Azzuri. Played his university football for Maryland (43/0).

DEFENCE

Anthony Markanich, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Colorado Rapids (13/0), St. Louis City SC (29/1), Minnesota United FC (33/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Chicago Fire and Olympiacos Chicago. Played his university football for Northern Illinois (67/17).

Nicolas Romero, 21

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Atletico Tucuman (77/2), Minnesota United FC (27/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.8M

Notes: Full name: Fernando Nicolas Romero. Developed by Atletico Tucuman.

Michael Boxall, 37

New Zealand (54/1)

Notable Clubs: Auckland City (6/0), Vancouver Whitecaps (19/0), Wellington Phoenix (39/2), SuperSport United (53/4), Minnesota United FC (262/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Developed by Three Kings United and Mount Albert Grammar School. Played his university football for UC Santa Barbara (78/1). Won a New Zealand League title with Auckland City. Won two South African Cups with SuperSport United. Won an OFC Nations Cup with New Zealand.

Jefferson Diaz, 24

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Real Cartagena (43/3), Valledupar (25/2), Deportivo Cali (43/4), Minnesota United FC (36/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Full name: Jefferson Abel Diaz Beleno. Developed by Elite Capital and Real Cartagena.

MIDFIELD

Wil Trapp, 32

United States (20/0)

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (185/2), Inter Miami CF (21/0), Minnesota United FC (149/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Columbus Crew SC. Played his university football for Akron (45/1).

Nectarios Triantis, 22

Australia

Notable Clubs: Western Sydney Wanderers (1/0), Central Coast Mariners (25/0), Sunderland (3/0), Hibernian (46/3), Minnesota United FC (5/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Canterbury Junior FC, Sydney Olympic, Football New South Wales NTC, and Sydney FC. Played for Australia (14/1) at youth levels. Won an Australian A-League Championship with Central Coast Mariners. Named to PFA A-League Team of the Season 2022-23.

Joaquin Pereyra, 26

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Rosario Central (45/1), Famalicao (15/0), Atletico Tucuman (112/4), Minnesota United FC (40/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Rosario Central. Won a Copa Argentina with Rosario Central.

FORWARD

Joseph Rosales, 24

Honduras (32/0)

Notable Clubs: CA Independiente de La Chorrera (33/2), Minnesota United FC (97/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Full name: Joseph Yerimid Rosales Erazo. Won two Panamanian league titles with CA Independiente.

Robin Lod, 32

Finland (81/6)

Notable Clubs: HJK Helsinki (75/15), VPS Palloseura (11/2), Panathinaikos (75/12), Sporting Gijon (23/4), Minnesota United FC (158/34)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by SUMU and HJK Helsinki. Won three Veikkausliiga (Finland 1st tier) titles, a Finnish Cup, and a Finnish League Cup with HJK Helsinki. Named Veikkausliiga Best Player and Best Midfielder 2014.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane, 25

South Africa (19/4)

Notable Clubs: Maritzburg United (53/7), Minnesota United FC (125/24)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Developed by Nxamalala Fast XI and Maritzburg United.

Familiar Faces

Midfielder Hassani Dotson was developed by Crossfire Academy and Washington Premier. Hassani is a Seattle native.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Brunell, Leyva, Joao Paulo, Cristian, Rusnak, Vargas,

De Rosario, Ferreira, Kent, Minoungou, Morris, Musovski, Rothrock.

Minnesota from:

St. Clair, Smir, Romero, Markanich, Boxall, Duggan, Taylor, Jefferson Diaz, Chandler, Fitz, Joseph Rosales, Farina, Lod, Trapp, Jung, Gressel, Triantis, Pereyra, Gene, Dotson, Harvey, Mesanvi, Yeboah, Hlongwane, Dieng, Randell.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Arriola (knee), de la Vega (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Minnesota -

OUT: none.

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Minnesota: No players suspended. St. Clair, Hlongwane, Boxall, Triantis, Pereyra, Romero, and Duggan are all carrying one booking into this match.

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Vargas carries one booking into this match.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC were the 7th best in the league at passing this season, with a completion percentage of 86.6%. (per Sounders FC Communications).