Full-time: No Nico, no problem, Sounders win opener 4-0
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
New year, new formation for your Seattle Sounders #SEAvMIN #Sounders pic.twitter.com/FNF4OVbiJm
— Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) April 17, 2021
anddddddd here it is.
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) April 17, 2021
tonight’s XI in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/8DT7jhmaOL
Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.
This is Seattle Sounders Minnesota United; watch with us
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