It was a disappointing trip to Emerald City for Minnesota United tonight, who fell to the Seattle Sounders by a score of 3-1 at Lumen Field. Key absences for both sides changed the face of the game before it even started, and despite some good moments for the visiting Loons, it was the hosts who found the difference-makers they needed in this one, sending the Black and Blue home empty-handed once again. 

With Joaquín Pereyra out of action due to injury, the Loons rolled out a familiar lineup with Tomás Chancalay in his countryman’s place, while Seattle made do without star striker Dejan Joveljić, who was away on international duty. These changes clearly affected the play of both teams in small ways, with the start of the game looking very spread out. Both sides took advantage of the acres of space available to play through, making for a very intriguing opening to proceedings. Seattle established a more dominant presence on the ball early, using dynamic movement and clever passing to shift the Loons in key moments. The visitors felt like they were finding themselves without Pereyra pulling the strings, and that adjustment took a bit too long. 

The hosts grabbed the lead in the 16th minute, when a ball over the top found the feet of Sounders forward Jordan Morris for a difficult volley finish. Some disorganized play from the backline gave him just enough space to get his side on the scoresheet, giving them even more confidence going forward. A few scattered chances came the Loons’ way in the next few minutes, but Seattle was applying too much pressure for them to really get their feet under them.

In the 35th minute, former Loon Hassani Dotson doubled Seattle’s lead, finishing off the chaos after a corner. This sent the Loons into a bit of a panic, resorting to long balls to relieve some pressure and avoid going down three before the half. Eventually, they were able to muster some success in the 40th minute, turning the ball over high, winning free kicks, and generally finding the foothold they needed. 

This continued in the second half, when the substitution of Bongokuhle Hlongwane for Kyle Duncan made a huge difference for the visitors. Hlongwane’s natural inclination to get forward allowed him to find spaces to attack the flanks, and as he created more of a threat on the right, Anthony Markanich was able to find more space on the left. With their wingbacks getting more involved, the Loons found periods of control easier to come by, which in turn made them look more comfortable while defending. The psychological boost of a few good passages can’t be understated, and the game gained an edge as the second half carried on. 

That all came to a head in the 57th minute, when a cross from Hlongwane found an unmarked Markanich running onto the penalty spot. The Loons’ All-Star whipped in an impressive strike on the volley, hitting the Seattle keeper before ricocheting into the side-netting to cut the deficit in half. This was Markanich’s eighth goal of the regular season, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most effective two-way threats. From there, the game was back and forth for the better part of the next quarter of an hour, but the hosts weren’t going to let the Loons back in without a fight.

Though they managed to create several good chances from set pieces, the Boys in Black and Blue couldn’t find the finishing touch they needed, leaving the door open for Seattle to score the dagger in the 83rd minute. With their two-goal lead restored, the hosts saw the game out calmly, though a close-call for the Loons in the 89th minute may have made Brian Schmetzer’s side a little nervous before the final whistle. 

All in all, it was a match decided by a few crucial moments. A pair of fantastic finishes from the hosts made all the difference, while a lack of sharpness in the final third haunted the Loons once again. A fantastic showing from Markanich and Hlongwane ultimately went unrewarded, and the search for a turn in form goes on for MNUFC. 

The next match for your Loons will be a home tilt against Houston, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10, following the international break.