FS1 at 6:30PM; watch with us.

FULL-TIME: Raúl Ruidíaz scored a brace and João Paulo and Fredy Montero each had a goal and an assist to lead the Sounders to a season-opening 4-0 win over Minnesota United on Friday. All four goals came in the second half after Ruidíaz had a penalty saved in the first half, which the Sounders were a bit lucky to get out of tied 0-0.

But João Paulo opened the scoring with an absolute golazo in the 49th minute and the Sounders mostly cruised from there.

Season-openers rarely have the number of compelling narratives that Friday’s will have. Not only will the Seattle Sounders be playing the team they dramatically beat in last year’s Western Conference final, but it’s a team with an overlooked local (Federal Way’s Hassani Dotson) and an inspired former club legend (Osvaldo Alonso). Oh yeah, and there will be about 7,000 fans in attendance, marking the first time the Sounders faithful have been allowed to watch their club in person in more than a year.

The Sounders have plenty going on, too. Nicolás Lodeiro is expected to miss the game with some sort of injury, Jordan Morris is out for the foreseeable future and they’re trying to replace a host of veterans who left in the offseason while working on a new formation. The 3-5-2 has shown promise in the preseason but Minnesota is by far the biggest test they’ll have faced since last year’s MLS Cup.

Live blog

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle:

• OUT: Jimmy Medranda (left hamstring strain)
• OUT: Jordan Morris (ACL injury)
• QUESTIONABLE: Nicolas Lodeiro (left quad strain)

Minnesota:

• OUT: Ike Opara (undisclosed)
• OUT: Bakeye Dibassy (undisclosed)
• OUT: Niko Hansen (undisclosed)

Officials

REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Timothy Ford; VAR: Jon Freemon; AVAR: Joshua Patlak

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Friday, 6:55PM

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Online Streaming: Fubo TV (affiliate link)

National English TV: FS1

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Costigan, Keller, Zakuani)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

National Spanish TV: Fox Deportes

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders Minnesota United; watch with us

Sounder at Heart has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Sounder at Heart may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.