Minnesota United loves penalty kicks in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The fourth-seeded Loons and fifth-seeded Sounders played to a scoreless draw in Game 1 of a MLS Cup Playoffs first-round series, but Minnesota beat Seattle 3-2 in penalty kicks.
Last year, Minnesota United won two penalty kick shootouts to beat Real Salt Lake in a first round series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Alex Roldan had his PK saved by Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in the second round, while his brother Cristian Roldan had his go off the woodwork in the fourth round.
Julian Gressel could have sealed the win in the fourth round, but had his shot go off the post. Then Danny Leyva missed his PK to hand it to Minnesota.
Loons’ Kelvin Yeboah, Nector Triantis and Juaquin Pereya made PKs to take a 1-0 series head heading into Game 2 next Monday in Seattle.
The Loons had the highest quality scoring chance of first half come the ninth minute. Forward Bongi Hlongwane had a clean breakaway but pushed his shot wide of the far post. Hlongwane’s chance had an expected
In pursuit, Sounders center back Jackson Ragen put a hand to Hlongwane’s back and Hlongwane went down. On replay, fans at Allianz Field protested for a penalty kick, but referee Alexis da Silva said play on.
Loons head coach Eric Ramsay didn’t roll out the lineup shared pre-match with Hlongwane moving from right wing back to No. 9, while Joseph Rosales went from midfield to right wing back. Robin Lod and Joaquin Pereyra were attacking midfielders.
After finishing regular season with a back four, Loons went back to its staple of a five-man back line for Game 1, with Nico Romero, Michael Boxall and Jefferson Diaz at center back and Anthony Markanich at left wingback.
MNUFC won both regular season matches against Seattle in 2025, a 3-2 win in Washington in June and a 1-0 victory in St. Paul in August.
Minnesota had less than 40% possession in both regular-season games and again on Monday.
During one long stretch of Seattle possession, Jordan Morris was able to find Danny Musovski at the near post, but goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was not napping and made a point-blank save in the 80th minute.
Ramsay subbed in Kelvin Yeboah and Hassani Dotson for Rosales and Lod in the 71st minute. Then Owen Gene for Will Trapp in the 82nd minute.
Joaquin Pereyra set up for free kick from 25 yards out in the 89th minute and while most of his service was wildly off line most of the game, this shot narrowly missed from curling inside the far post.
To close out the regular season, Minnesota has won only one of its last four matches, while Sounders have victories in three straight — all against playoff teams.
Briefly
MUUFC2, the club’s second team, upset top seed St. Louis City2 in the MLS Next Pro playoffs on Sunday and advance to play Colorado Rapids 2 in the Western Conference final on Sunday. The Loons (12-10-6) finished in fifth place during the lower level’s regular season, but have strung together two playoff wins.
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