Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC host Minnesota United in match two of a best-of-three MLS Cup tie. Sounders must win or draw + win the goofy penalty kick shootout in order to avoid elimination. No presh.
What: MLS Cup Round of 16 Game 2, Seattle Sounders FC v. Minnesota United FC.
Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
When: 7:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday 3 November 2025 CE.
At Stake: Survival in the MLS Cup to fight another day.
Where to Watch: Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes, MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and Apple TV+.
Where to Listen: KJR via iHeart Radio, Sirius XM FC 157, and El Rey 1360 AM.
So, here we are. Backs to the wall, potentially one match from being eliminated from MLS Cup, etcetera, etcetera,. The response is clear. We make Royal Brougham Park the loudest, most inhospitable environment imaginable for the Loons.
It’s an all hands on deck situation. ECS and all of its sub-groups need to be on point and present. We must sing and chant and yell and swear and try to set off the local seismic activity detectors as we once did three years prior in the CONCACAF Champions League Final against UNAM Pumas.
You don’t need me to tell you this either. You all know what to do. If you haven’t the means to get to the ground, you also know what to do. Pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips.
It’s MLS Cup football, under the Monday night lights at Royal Brougham Park. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!
Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”
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Apparently scoring 16 goals in all competitions isn’t enough to get you in the team on matchday.
The Good News
Sounders record in matches following a draw result is 7-1-4 in all competitions. So there’s a crack of daylight there. Add to that our 15-8-4 home record in all competitions, and our chances look better still.
The Loons got their Schrodinger’s “victory” Monday last, due to the inexplicable use of penalty kicks in a situation that did not determine who advances to the next round. That said, they were unable to score a goal on us from either the run of play or from a set piece. So…there’s that.
Minnesota only have one win in their last five matches in all competitions (1-2-2); that’s hardly a display of dominance. Sounders FC, in stark contrast, are unbeaten in their last five matches (3-2-0).
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.
Apparently everyone is fit and eligible for selection except for Arriola and de la Vega who are both recovering from knee surgery.
Looks like the Loons saw fit to sell their best goal scorer, Oluwaseyi, to Villarreal for €8M. One less dangerous goal scorer to mark.
We won Leagues Cup this season. Minnesota United hasn’t won fuck-all.
The Bad News
Sounders both drew and “lost” last time out and Minnesota United both drew and “won” because MLS likes penalty kicks. Don’t try and make it make sense. It will only hurt your head. It’s so frustrating that MLS has created an MLS Cup Round of 16 where advancement is possible having won zero matches and scoring as few as zero goals. Top job, MLS [sarcasm], you really do try to find every way imaginable to completely ruin football. Honourable mention: FIFA’s manifestly daft interpretation of the Offside law, where you can be literally a toenail past the second to last defender’s boot and be called offside for it.
We haven’t found a way to defeat the Loons this season (0-1-2), which is troubling.
Minnesota United and Canada goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair, looks to be first choice between the sticks for our friends to the north. Maxime Crepeau seems to be his only competition at this stage. To sum it up, St. Clair is a proper goalkeeper, and that makes the Loons difficult to score on…and I guess Canada as well, for that matter.
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.
I think that there is a high probability that Sounders centre-forward Danny Musovski will start every match in this tie on the bench, despite being the top scorer and most reliable finisher in the squad this season. Make it make sense.
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 0.04 goals/match) and concede goals at about the same rate (difference of 0.12 goals conceded/match) in all competitions. So by the numbers, it’s a crapshoot. As it often is in MLS.
The Side I Would Select
It’s been a full week since the first match of the tie. So everyone should be rested and mostly fit. The conundrum is whether to play the same selection and shape we always play, or mix it up to mess with the opponent’s expectations. Seeing as we haven’t managed to defeat the Loons with the usual tactics and selection, maybe it’s time to vary it up a bit.
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Ragen
RCH Gomez Andrade
RB Kossa-Rienzi
LDM Vargas
RDM Cristian
LF Rothrock
CAM Ferreira
RF Morris
CF Musovski
The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select
The one constant with Brian Schmetzer is that it’s usually easy to predict his team selection. Tactics: Bashing in crosses from the ‘primary assist zone’, static play in both player movement and ball movement, plodding pace, ball-possession emphasised. I’d be shocked if this wasn’t the team.
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Ragen
RCH Gomez Andrade
RB Alex
LDM Vargas
RDM Cristian
LF Rothrock
CAM Rusnak
RF Ferreira
CF Morris
Intangibles
Officiating.
The Referee for game two of the MLS Cup Round of 16 cup tie will be Pierre-Luc Lauziere.
SEA record with Lauziere as Ref: 0-1-2
MIN record with Lauziere as Ref: 3-0-3
Pierre-Luc Lauziere has refereed 187 matches in his career, 78 matches in MLS, 2 in MLS Cup.
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
Creeping doubt.
We’ve yet to beat this lot in three tries. Fuck sakes. What’s it going to take?
The Brodg.
Brendan Rodgers recently stepped down as Manager of Celtic. Rodgers had previously managed at Watford, Reading, Swansea City, Liverpool, and Leicester City. Wonder if Sounders FC could afford him. Rodgers’ honours as Manager include: 4x Scottish Premiership Champions, 3x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup, an FA Cup, and an FA Community Shield in addition to personal honours. We could do worse. Far worse. Maybe it’s time to start stepping up to the next level.
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
The Loons as they lined up against Sounders in their 0:0 draw against us, on 27 October at Simpson Street.
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)
Sounders FC: No players suspended. No players booked.
Minnesota: No players suspended. St. Clair, Hlongwane, Boxall, Triantis, and Pereyra are all carrying one booking into this match.
Fun Fact
Royal Brougham Park is a fortress. Sounders FC are 15-8-4 at home this season in all competitions. One of our four losses was to Minnesota United, the only MLS club that has beaten us at home this season. The other three were losses to Botafogo, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
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