Seattle Sounders Knockout Minnesota United, Reach the MLS Cup Playoffs Finals, 3-2

Seattle Sounders pulled a magnificent rally in the final 15 minutes of their encounter against the Minnesota United, securing a Western Conference title and the MLS Cup Playoff finals.

Brian Schmetzer’s boys knocked out United with a Gustav Svensson’s goal in the last moments of the injury time, advancing to their fourth finals over the past five years.

“As a soccer fan, when I look back on this in 10 years – I mean, that was an unbelievable performance. I don’t know how we did it. I’m just telling you, I don’t know how we did it,” Schmetzer said to the reporters following the game.

Minnesota was up 2-0 after 67 minutes, looking so close to fantastic success, but all that vanished in just 15 minutes.

At first, Will Bruin scored for 2-1, fixing Raul Ruidiaz’s stopped attempt. It was the 75th minute when the substitute found a way to the United’s net.

Things haven’t changed for some time, even though Seattle became more aggressive, and as time went by, more and more nervous. But one minute before the end of the regulations, the Sounders got what they wanted.

Ruidiaz used one situation following a corner to put the ball into the net and tie the result. It was a shock for the guests from Minneapolis who simply disappeared from the pitch from that moment on. Four minutes later, another corner, and the same outcome, only now, Gustav Svensson was the scorer.

The Swed’s header passed besides Dayne St. Clair, who was in disbelief once seeing the ball in the net. It was a devastating blow for him and all of his teammates, who were one step away from a historic achievement.

“Late on we were sort of running on empty a little bit and obviously when you do that, you concede space, and suddenly they’ve got extra bodies in the box, you leave yourself vulnerable,” Adrian Heath, United’s head coach explained.

Minnesota played well until that last 15 minutes and the injury time. They reached the lead in the 29th minute, after Emanuel Reyenoso’s beauty free-kick. It was yet another superb goal of the Argentinian international, who is one of the best players in the playoffs this year.

He had three assists twice during the playoffs, setting a new MLS record. Reynoso made one dish in tonight’s match, too, setting up Bakaye Dibassy with an excellent position to score after a free-kick cross. The 31-year old French defender used it to head the ball into the net and double the Loons’ lead. Yet again, that wasn’t enough for them to secure their place in the finals.

Instead, the Sounders will try to defend the title won last season against Toronto FC. Over the past five years, this is the fourth time the franchise from Seattle plays for the MLS Cup trophy. They experienced just one loss during that span, in 2017, once Toronto won the silverware. Interestingly, all of their past finals were against the team from BMO Field.

But that will change this year, with Columbus Crew awaiting Schmetzer’s side in the season’s finale. The Crew was No.3 in the East, and during the playoffs, they eliminated NY Red Bulls, Nashville SC, and finally the New England Revolution in the East finals.

Seattle will travel to MAPFRE Stadium, with the game being set for December 12, at 8 PM ET.