Sounders drop more points to Minnesota | OneFootball

The last time these teams met Minnesota got three points and the Sounders looked flat. Minnesota set up a shell and the Sounders were unable to get anything done.

Since that loss, the Sounders gained experience during the Club World Cup and have built on that success since. In this game, the Sounders dominated possession and opportunities. Their press created turnovers and it seemed like a matter of time before the Sounders put away a chance. Even Brian Schmetzer felt that it was their game to take when he made his first subs. That is not what happened.

On a set piece the attempted cross didn't reach the attackers that were kept onside when Obed Vargas was held, and the ball found a path into the net without being touched. That goal was held up for review because Vargas was held but it was determined that either it wasn't a grab or it didn't impact the play. It was Frei's first game since he was taken off the field in an ambulance in a scary moment last month, and his only mistake in the match was a costly one as he thought that the ball would be redirected.

When the Sounders beat Minnesota in the same stadium last year, Jackson Ragen was the only scorer in that game that was available due to injuries. The Sounders missed Albert Rusnak controlling the middle and Ryan Kent who has been very effective crossing balls in from the left. None of the Sounders had a poor performance, they just needed to score on some of their chances.

The Sounders had a decent attack. They played out their game plan well, and the strategy could have been effective with a little help from the soccer gods. The Sounders had 2 shots in the waning minutes of the game that required quality saves by by Dayne St. Clair as he was able to deflect the shots away from the goal.

It was an important game in the standings, Minnesota jumped into second on the table and the Sounders were unable to tie them in points, salvage a game in the series, as well as catching up to other teams at the top of the table.

It is possible that the Leagues cup, their next game will help them turn the page on this loss and continue with their good form. Stand-outs in this game were Christian Roldan, Pedro de la Vega and Georgi Minoungou.

Christian played very physically on defense and continued with his stellar season. Pedro de la Vega continued to show glimpses of his brilliance, and Georgi Minoungou continued to slice by defenders, making it look like artwork.

The Sounders made fewer creative runs for stretches of this game, but it was a far cry from their last game against Minnesota. There is no chance Minnesota will want to meet the Sounders in the playoffs, and Puebla might be a bit nervous about the Sounders taking out their frustrations from this loss on them.