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Major League Soccer | Gameweek 18
Jul 18, 2021 at 7pm UK
National Sports Center
SS

Minnesota Utd
1 - 0
Seattle

Lod (81')
Reynoso (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Leyva (13'), Gomez Andrade (18'), Arreaga (64')

Preview: Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Minnesota United and Seattle Sounders, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders travel to Minnesota United on Sunday, seeking to extend their unbeaten start to a 14th league game at Allianz Field.

Having surpassed an MLS record for the number of matches without defeat, now the Sounders take on a home side who themselves had not lost in seven outings prior to their setback at Colorado last time out.


Match preview

Head coach Brian Schmetzer has been taking the plaudits of late, as his Seattle side broke a long-standing league record with a 2-0 victory over Houston Dynamo in their most recent fixture - usurping four other clubs that previously reached the 12-match mark without a loss.

They have now won eight of their games this season, with the other five ending in draws; setting the pace in the Western Conference, where they enjoy a three-point lead heading into this weekend.

With centre-back Nouhou Tolo, midfielder Joao Paulo and 10-goal striker Raul Ruidiaz all excelling this term, the 2016 and 2019 MLS Cup champions continue to prove their doubters wrong, after many predicted they would struggle to compete for a top-seven berth before a ball was kicked.

Against Houston, Schmetzer's men finally broke through in the 63rd minute, as Kelyn Rowe notched the opener before Ruidiaz eventually added a goal of his own in stoppage time - having rattled the crossbar in the early stages - to seal a victory which means the Sounders also hold a 14-match home unbeaten streak in regular-season action, dating back to September 2020.

They will continue their improbable quest for an undefeated season on Sunday, away from their Lumen Field stronghold, when meeting one of their favourite opponents in Minnesota, who they have overturned in seven of their eight MLS meetings to date - including a 4-0 win on the opening day of the 2021 season.

Though they have fared woefully in their previous encounters with Seattle, it is likely that Minnesota United may still fancy their chances of bringing the Washington-based outfit back down to earth this week.

Confidence should remain relatively buoyant in the camp, despite their own seven-match unbeaten run ending with a 2-0 loss at Colorado last time out, with the Loons failing to score for the first time since a 1-0 reverse against Austin at the start of May.

That particular fact seems to contradict the attacking statistics which show that United have the lowest shooting accuracy in the league - finding the target with just 26% of their shots - and only Austin have a lower shot conversion rate than Minnesota's 6.5% this season.

Head coach Adrian Heath admitted his team's performance in Colorado was not acceptable, and seeing that undefeated streak ended without much resistance was "probably the most disappointed" he has been in the last two years.

Veteran midfield lynchpin Osvaldo Alonso - who previously played for the Sounders for 10 seasons and captained them to four U.S. Open Cups and the 2016 MLS Cup - will be among the key figures upon his return to Allianz Field, as his current club seek to put things right at the first available opportunity.

Heath is sure to call upon the Cuban workhorse to help dig out an against-the-odds success against the league's leading side, which would consolidate Minnesota's claims for a playoff place amid a packed mid-section of the Western Conference standings.

Minnesota United Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W



Team News

Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer will again be without both Alex Roldan - who scored on his international debut during El Salvador's 2-0 win over Guatemala in the Gold Cup last week - and his elder brother Cristian Roldan (currently representing the USA) on Sunday.

In addition, attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro and goalkeeper Stefan Frei continue to be sidelined by long-term knee injuries, while Shane O'Neill, Jordy Delem and Jordan Morris - who injured his ACL while on loan at Swansea City - will miss out too.

Ecuadorian defender Xavier Arreaga is available again after the Copa America's conclusion, so should feature as part of a back three for the league leaders.

Minnesota also have Dayne St. Clair away on international duty, with Canada, and previous ever-present defender Michael Boxall is also an absentee having been forced to miss the defeat to Colorado through injury, ahead of his upcoming Olympic Games campaign with New Zealand.

On-loan Boca Juniors striker Ramon Abila must serve a suspension after picking up a red card as a substitute last time out, so Adrien Hunou is likely to be supported by Abila's former Boca colleague Emanuel Reynoso up front.

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Gasper; Kallman, Raitala, Finlay; Lod, Gregus, Alonso, Fragapane; Reynoso, Hunou

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Cleveland; Gomez, Arreaga, Cissoko; Smith, Atencio, Paulo, Medranda, Rowe; Montero, Ruidiaz


We say: Minnesota United 0-1 Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders are in pole position for the Supporters' Shield and are still glowing from writing their own page in MLS history, so should expect to take home at least a point - if not three - on Sunday.

Having managed various absences admirably so far, the visitors remain depleted, but Minnesota are unlikely to breach their defences too often given their previous profligacy in the final third.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data




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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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