You voted, and it’s official: Minnesota United’s 10-man comeback against Seattle in the 2025 playoffs is the best moment of the club’s first decade in MLS. So why not relive the glory all over again?

Let’s set the scene. After a record-setting season, fourth-seed Minnesota took on fifth-seed Seattle in the Round One Best-of-3 series. Tensions were high, as a Loons side that had been absolutely dominated by the Sounders over the past eight seasons had finally logged their first win at Lumen Field earlier in the year on their way to sweeping the Sounders in regular-season play. Game 1 saw the Western Conference powerhouses held to a scoreless draw at Allianz Field, with Minnesota winning 3:2 in a tense PK battle. Seattle took back the momentum in Game 2, prevailing over visiting Minnesota 4-2. So it all came down to this: a chilly November night at Allianz Field, and everything on the line.

A Late Comeback

It was a rough start for the Loons, as Seattle’s Albert Rusnák put one away early in the fifth minute to put the visitors ahead. Just three minutes later, Danny Musovski doubled the lead with a close-quarters shot in a crowded box. Going down by two before the 10-minute mark is enough to shut down the spirits of any squad, and that feeling extended to the packed stadium — a palpable here we go again energy began to spread throughout the crowd.

But Minnesota was not ready to give this up. The Black and Blue got their opportunity to begin clawing their way back when Yeimar earned a yellow card after fouling Kelvin Yeboah in the 18’, giving Joaquín Pereyra a free kick in a dangerous position. He didn’t miss a beat, sending a soaring left-footed beauty over the Seattle defense and into the back of the net. Allianz Field was revitalized, rejuvenated, roaring — the Loons were back in this game.

After that glimmer of hope, things took another turn when Joseph Rosales picked up a red card in a heated altercation just before the half, putting the home team down a man against some very fierce competition. Just another stop on the emotional roller coaster of this unbelievable game.

The next 45 minutes were some of the best playoff soccer MLS has ever seen. Shots on both sides, saves like crazy from keeper Dayne St. Clair, fouls and set pieces and a fast-paced push and pull. Finally, the Loons landed the equalizer when defender Jefferson Diaz rose to the occasion with a perfectly-placed header in the box, putting the scoreline at 2-2 in the 62’. 

Ten minutes later, the Loons were put back in one of their most lethal positions. This team was driven by set piece goals in 2025, and Pereyra’s corner did not disappoint. Flying to the back post, wingback Anthony Markanich worked his magic, running in with a header to put the Loons back in the lead with 20 minutes left on the clock. The stadium held its collective breath. Was this it? Had they won?

Jordan Morris said not so fast, dashing their hopes with an equalizer for Seattle with two minutes left in regulation. Just like that, it turned into a battle from the spot.

The Shootout to End All Shootouts

If you weren’t there, you seriously missed out, but never fear: I’m here to help you live vicariously through the most heart-stopping of PK shootouts. (And I do mean heart-stopping. I don’t think I breathed the whole time.)

Pereyra stepped up first, and hit it wide in an uncharacteristic show of nerves. Rusnák scored on St. Clair to give Seattle the advantage, but things evened out when Nectarios Triantis swept it in past Andrew Thomas — who subbed on for Stefan Frei toward the end of regulation — and Jordan Morris hit the woodwork. 

From there, it was a constant back-and-forth. Four rounds of perfect goals followed by two rounds of misses and saves, then another pair of goals as both squads cycled through the lineups. Seattle had a chance to take it home on multiple occasions after Thomas saved Anthony Markanich and Hassani Dotson’s shots in the seventh and eighth rounds, but Obed Vargas hit the post and St. Clair stepped up to shut down Osaze De Rosario. The sold-out crowd alternated between tense silence and raucous celebrations, standing on the precipice of something great.

With both teams at six goals, it all came down to the keepers.  

St. Clair made it look easy, putting the pressure of making or breaking a season on Andrew Thomas. All the Loons needed to advance was a miss or a save.

Thomas hit the crossbar.

There is no other gameday atmosphere like that. The way the crowd exploded, the way the Wonderwall roared, the way every Loons fan in that stadium was feeling the exact same thing — this, my friends, is why we love soccer.

This is a moment that earned its place not just in Minnesota history, but in Major League Soccer history. It went into the books as one of the most intense playoff games of all time. And the Black and Blue came out on top.

The Rewind series is part of Minnesota United's 10th Season campaign, a celebration looking back on some of the big moments that got us here.