Sounders relinquish two leads, but edge Minnesota United

Field Level Media|published: Sat 24th August, 21:27 2024

Aug 24, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris (13) and Minnesota United midfielder Wil Trapp (20) challenge for the ball in the first half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Albert Rusnak scored the go-ahead goal in the 75th minute and added an assist to lead the Seattle Sounders to a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United on Saturday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Jordan Morris and Jackson Regan also scored for Seattle (11-8-7, 40 points) which moved into fifth place in the Western Conference with the victory. The Sounders also improved to 15-1-2 all-time in all competitions against the Loons, including 3-0 this season.

Stefan Frei, making his 400th career MLS start, finished with three saves for Seattle, which won for the seventh time in its last nine MLS matches.

Forward Kelvin Yeboah, making his debut with the Loons (9-11-6, 33 points) following a summer transfer as a Designated Player from Genoa of Serie A, scored two goals, including one on a penalty kick. Yeboah became the first Loons player in team history to score a brace in their MLS debut. Dayne St. Clair finished with two saves.

Seattle took advantage of a midfield turnover by Minnesota defender Jefferson Diaz to take a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Obed Vargas then hit Morris with a long through pass and Morris beat St. Clair with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Minnesota tied it 1-1 in the 24th minute on a penalty kick by Yeboah who stuttered-stepped a right-footed shot into the right corner as Frei dove the wrong way. Yeboah earned the penalty after he was fouled by Yeimar Gomez.

The Sounders regained the lead just four minutes later when Ragen headed in a crossing pass from Rusnak.

The Loons tied it 2-2 in the 56th minute when Yeboah took a pass from Wil Trapp above the middle of the box, then burst past a pair of Seattle defenders and chipped in a left-footed shot over Frei and into the right side of the net.

Rusnak then scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 75th minute, blasting a right-footed from outside the middle of the box that snuck inside the left post past a diving St. Clair for his fifth goal.

--Field Level Media

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