MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minnesota 04.02.2022 | MLS Week No. 5 | MLS Game No. 5 7:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW Twin Cities and MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)
The Loons return from the international break and are ready to hit the ground running in a matchup against the Seattle Sounders at home this Saturday evening. In the 10 times MNUFC and the Seattle Sounders have met in MLS, the Loons have only ever been able to best the Sounders once. The monumental win happened last year on July 18 thanks to a Robin Lod goal in the 81st minute to seal a 1-0 win over the boys from the Emerald City. Currently, the Sounders are ranked 11th in the West with one win, two losses and a single draw to their name. MNUFC, on the other hand, maintains one of the few remaining undefeated records in the league with two wins and two draws, earning them 3rd place in the West. Will the Loons be able to maintain their undefeated record and bump their number of wins against the Sounders to two? Or will the Sounders come out to St. Paul and continue to take down the Loons as they have in years past? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain — Saturday's game will be one for the books.
it’s a Minnesota thing… pic.twitter.com/FVxACt9VWV
The Sounders have been the closest thing there is to a white whale for Minnesota United FC ever since the Loons made the jump to MLS in 2017. Across 10 meetings with the team from the Emerald City, Minnesota has picked a win, a draw, and eight losses. Seattle also handed the Loons one of the most heartbreaking moments in club history in the 2020 Western Conference Final. Despite holding the upper-hand historically, the Sounders are still looking for their first victory at Allianz Field. They’ve only been visitors to the Midway venue on two occasions: last year’s 1-0 loss and a 1-1 draw on May 4, 2019. Overall, we’ll be treated to a good one on Saturday, and it is expected it to be a very, very tough one MORE
ADRIAN HEATH ON WHAT TRAINING HAS LOOKED LIKE WITH THE GROUP OF PLAYERS HERE...
“The lads are in good condition. The atmosphere is really good, as you would expect. Four games no defeats, but as per usual, Seattle Sounders are coming to town. Whatever team they put out, is going to be really competitive. I have a great amount of time for them as an organization. I’ve got a great amount of time for Schemtz [Brian Schmetzer] and his staff. And I know whichever team, there’s been talk about it, they’ve played five of their academy kids last year and got a result in Austin. Regardless of what their team, what they put out, we know it’s going to be tough at the weekend.” MORE
WIL TRAPP ON THE DEPTH AND YOUTH OF THE SEATTLE ROSTER...
“For me, it’s just a great testament to the quality that they continue to bring through their youth academy. How [Brian Schmetzer] seems to just trust these guys and the team rallies around it. There was a game last year, I remember them playing Austin, and they started five teenagers and they won the game. It doesn't matter who they put on the field, they have a winning culture about them and for us, we know that and it's always a great test.” MORE
let’s play some freaking hockey, @mnwild pic.twitter.com/4wHLNRVNgh