The Seattle Sounders are hosting Minnesota United on Monday in the Western Conference Final. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
FINAL 2020 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 11-5-6 (1.77 PPG, 2nd West), Loons: 9-5-7 (1.62 PPG, 4th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWWDL, Minnesota: WWWDW
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Seattle defeated LAFC 3-1 before taking down FC Dallas 1-0, both at home. Minnesota dispatched the Colorado Rapids 3-0 before going to Children’s Mercy Park and upsetting No. 1 Sporting Kansas City 3-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Due to COVID-19, the Sounders and Loons did not meet during the regular season. The last time they met was on last year’s Decision Day, where a Román Torres header gave the Sounders 1-0 win.
SEATTLE SUPREMACY: The Sounders have never lost to Minnesota United since the Loons entered MLS in 2017. Seattle is 5-0-1 all time, outscoring Minnesota 13-4.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE: Seattle enters Monday on a 14-match home playoff win streak dating back to 2014. Minnesota comes to Lumen Field on a 10-match unbeaten streak dating back to Sept. 27.
OZZIE RETURNS: For the second time since joining Minnesota United ahead of the 2019 season, former Sounders captain Osvaldo Alonso will return to Seattle as a member of the opposition.
MIGGY MEETS MINNESOTA: Speaking of reunions, Sounders midfielder Miguel Ibarra will face his former club for the first time since joining Seattle this past offseason. Ibarra, who has appeared in 12 matches for the Sounders this year, spent seven years over two stints with Minnesota United in both their NASL and MLS days.
FOUR IN FIVE: The Sounders have a chance to play in MLS Cup for the fourth time in five seasons. They would become only the second club in MLS history to do that, joining D.C. United, who went to the first four title games in league history.
LODEIRO LOCKED IN: Sounders maestro Nicolás Lodeiro set an MLS record against FC Dallas, recording an assist in his sixth consecutive postseason match. Lodeiro, who has nine career playoff dimes, passed the legendary David Beckham.
BREAKOUT BEBELO: Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso has been a revelation for the Loons since joining as a Designated Player on Sept. 1. The creative attacking midfielder from Boca Juniors, coincidentally the same club from where the Sounders acquired Lodeiro, has 13 assists in 15 matches, including six in Minnesota’s two playoff matches.
MOLINO MAGIC: Minnesota attacker Kevin Molino has recorded a brace in each of his last three matches dating back to Decision Day. His combination play with Reynoso has been the driving factor of the Loons’ recent success.
