Rusnák’s two assists steer Seattle past Minnesota in 3-1 win at Lumen Field

Rusnák’s passing gave Seattle the first edge

Seattle did not need a flood of chances to seize the match. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when Rusnák slipped a through ball into Jordan Morris and Morris finished with his right foot from the right side of the box into the bottom-left corner. It was a direct, efficient scoring play, and it set the tone for a Seattle attack that was more precise than prolific.

The second goal arrived in the 35th minute and gave the Sounders the kind of first-half cushion that changes the conversation. A corner produced the sequence, and Dotson was credited with the finish from very close range into the bottom-right corner for a 2-0 lead. Minnesota had enough of the ball to stay involved in the match, but Seattle’s finishing edge was already obvious by then.

That early margin fit the broader statistical picture. Seattle held 55.1 per cent possession, completed 510 passes and put eight of its 13 shots on target. Minnesota was hardly passive; the visitors produced 14 shots of their own. But the difference was accuracy. Seattle made its cleaner moments count, while Minnesota spent long stretches generating volume without the same level of threat on frame.

Minnesota found a route back, but not enough of them

Minnesota’s best spell produced a real opening in the 57th minute. Anthony Markanich cut the deficit to 2-1 with a left-footed finish from the centre of the box after Bongokuhle Hlongwane supplied a cross on a fast break. It was the kind of transition moment Minnesota needed: quick, direct and decisive, and for a while it put real pressure back on the home side.

The visitors had enough activity to suggest a comeback was possible. They won seven corners, attempted 24 crosses and forced Drake Callender’s opposite number into a busier defensive evening than the final score alone might imply, even if the clean statistical reward was limited. Markanich himself finished with five shots, the highest total listed for either side, but Minnesota still ended the match with only two shots on target.

That is where the comeback bid stalled. Minnesota could get into attacking positions, but too many of those sequences ended without the final action Seattle produced at key moments. Even Callender’s five saves, which helped keep the match within reach deep into the second half, could not change the larger pattern. Minnesota stayed alive long enough to make the game interesting, yet never found the repeat finish that would have made Seattle truly uncomfortable.

Arriola’s late strike and Our take on what separated them

Seattle’s answer came before Minnesota could turn pressure into an equalizer. In the 83rd minute, Arriola restored the two-goal lead with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the top-right corner, again with Rusnák providing the assist and again on a fast break. The timing mattered as much as the finish. At 2-1, Minnesota still had a path back; at 3-1, Seattle had reclaimed control.

Rusnák was the match’s clearest creative force, finishing with two assists and helping shape both Seattle goals from open play. Morris supplied the first finish, Arriola the last, and together they gave Seattle the decisive edge in the boxes. Morris put two of his three shots on target and scored once; Arriola came off the bench and converted his only listed shot. Those are small lines on a stat sheet, but in a close stretch of a match they become the entire story.

Our take: this was a strong Seattle result built less on territorial domination than on execution. The Sounders had only a narrow edge in possession and actually took one fewer shot than Minnesota, but their 8-on-13 shooting line dwarfed Minnesota’s 2-on-14. That kind of efficiency usually wins MLS matches. The caution for Seattle is that seven corners and 14 shots conceded leave room for improvement in limiting repeated pressure. For Minnesota, the path forward looks clearer: turn active spells into cleaner final actions. With 24 crosses, seven corners and plenty of attempts, the visitors created enough raw material to score more than once. They simply did not place enough of it where Seattle would pay for it.

Scoring moments

1. Period 1 · 16'

   Jordan Morris scored for Seattle Sounders FC in minute 16. The assist went to Albert Rusnák.

2. Period 1 · 35'

   Hassani Dotson scored for Seattle Sounders FC in minute 35.

3. Period 2 · 57'

   Anthony Markanich scored for Minnesota United FC in minute 57. The assist went to Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

4. Period 2 · 83'

   Paul Arriola scored for Seattle Sounders FC in minute 83. The assist went to Albert Rusnák.