Sounders FC Earns Three Points at Home with 1-0 Win Over Minnesota United FC

April 23, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC’s Jordan Morris in action
(Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. – Albert Rusnák scored the game’s lone goal as Sounders FC (6-2-1, 19 points) defeated Minnesota United FC (3-3-2, 11 points) on Saturday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Stefan Frei recorded his fifth shutout of the season, as the Rave Green have yet to concede a goal at home this year.

Rusnák scored Seattle’s goal in the 79th minute. Following a throw-in deep in Seattle’s attacking end, Fredy Montero flicked a ball onto the Slovakian at the top of the area, where he smashed a low, one-time shot to the far post past the outstretched arms of Minnesota’s Dayne St. Clair. It was the first goal of the season for Rusnák and first assist for Montero, who ranks second in club history with 52 across all competitions.

Seattle begins its 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on Wednesday evening with a Third Round matchup with San Diego Loyal SC at Starfire Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / Bleacher Report App & YouTube, El Rey 1360 AM). The club then travels to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 29 (6:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

With tonight’s 1-0 win, Seattle moves back to the top of the Western Conference, tied with St. Louis for first place with 19 points, but trailing the Missouri side via tiebreakers.

The Rave Green move to 11-1-1 against Minnesota across all competitions, including an 8-0-0 mark at Lumen Field. Seattle’s 10 regular-season wins against the Loons are the most against any opponent in MLS since 2017.

Of matches played 10 or more times (including postseason play), Seattle’s 84.6 percent win rate against the Loons is now the best by a team against a single opponent in MLS history.

With his goal in the 79th minute of play, midfielder Albert Rusnák recorded his first strike of 2023. The goal was his fourth in Rave Green, and his 45th regular-season tally in MLS.

Fredy Montero was credited with an assist of Rusnák’s goal, his first of the year and 52nd assist in all competitions for Sounders FC.

With the start tonight at leftback in place of Nouhou (illness), Kelyn Rowe made his 350th professional appearance in a career dating back to 2012. Rowe has represented four MLS clubs in that span, including his hometown Rave Green (2021-present), the New England Revolution (2012-2018), Real Salt Lake (2019) and Sporting KC (2019).

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