SEATTLE — Tani Oluwaseyi emerged as the star of the second half, scoring twice to propel Minnesota to a remarkable 3-2 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. This win marked Minnesota’s maiden victory in Seattle, a sweet triumph after a history of missed opportunities.
Minnesota, with a season record of 8-3-6, finally triumphed in Seattle after previous appearances resulted in disappointment. This was only their second win in 16 encounters against the Sounders, who have posed significant challenges in the past. Notably, the Sounders eliminated Minnesota during the Western Conference championship back in 2020.
This defeat was Seattle’s first at Lumen Field this season, shifting their home record to 5-1-2. Interestingly, FC Cincinnati remains the sole MLS team undefeated on home turf. A rapid barrage of four goals within a frantic eight-minute stretch left spectators bewildered, marking only the ninth instance in MLS history that teams combined for such a scoring spree in under ten minutes during a half.
The breakthrough for Minnesota came in the 51st minute when Oluwaseyi, finding himself unmarked at the penalty spot, accurately redirected a nifty back pass from teammate Robin Lod to open the scoring. Just seven minutes later, Oluwaseyi capitalized on a rebound, deftly netting again to extend the lead to 3-1. In between his goals, Lod converted a penalty kick in the 54th, adding a crucial two-goal cushion.
Meanwhile, Seattle managed to find the back of the net courtesy of goals from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Nicolás Romero, showcasing their determination in a competitive match.
In a moment of protest, Seattle players donned T-shirts proclaiming “Club World Cup Ca$h Grab” prior to the match, advocating for a portion of the prize money related to an upcoming international tournament. This gesture highlighted their stand on the broader issue of player compensation.