FULLTIME: After a dominant first half saw them jump out to a 2-0 lead, the Seattle Sounders were forced to weather some scary moments in the second half before finally putting Minnesota United away on a last-second goal to win 3-1 on Saturday.

Although Clint Dempsey assisted on the game’s final goal, his introduction at the 60-minute mark was also about the time that United turned the game around. Dempsey wasn’t necessarily bad, but his relative lack of energy and defense compared to Cristian Roldan was noticeable and the Sounders struggled to rediscover their shape on either end of the field.

Still, the Sounders are in no position to look down their noses at any wins at this point as they had lost their previous two home games and were winless in their first four.

Sounders 3, Minnesota 1: Jordy Delem put the final touches on the Sounders’ first win of the season, finishing off a Clint Dempsey pass to score his first professional goal.

Sounders 2, Minnesota 1: Christian Ramirez, on for Abue Danladi, pulled one back from the Loons when he was allowed a backpost header from a seemingly inconsequential pass from Darwin Quintero.

Halftime: The Sounders jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Gustav Svensson and Will Burin just a couple minutes apart. Svensson struck a shot from about 26 yards out, one of the more spectacular goals in recent Sounders memory. Will Bruin followed that up shortly thereafter, redirecting a Cristian Roldan cross from about six yards out.

So far, Brian Schmetzer’s somewhat odd lineup seems to be paying off. Alex Roldan has looked strong on the left side, Cristian Roldan has brought high energy and assisted on both goals and Osvaldo Alonso looks very much like his old self, registering seven defensive actions and completing 37 of 39 passes.

Sounders 2, United 0: About two minutes after they opened the scoring, the Sounders added a second. Cristian Roldan was again in the middle of it, putting in a low cross from the end line that found Will Bruin all alone. Bruin didn’t hit it particularly well, but he still managed to beat Bobby Shuttleworth to the near post.

Sounders 1, United 0: Gustav Svensson gave the Sounders an early lead when he put his foot through a feed from Cristian Roldan from about 26 yards out. The laser was perfectly placed in the top corner.

Here we are, gathering at CLink, knowing that Clint Dempsey is back. We know that Kelvin Leerdam is back. We know that Alonso is back. There’s a reason to hope. There’s a reason to hay fe. A point on the road. Two goals against a good-great defense. There is hope for these Seattle Sounders.

We gather.

Some Loons fly in. Minnesota United travels a great distance, with their first ever DP, challenging the mighty, if weakened, Sound.

Normally I would write things about the game, the matchups, the tactics. You know these things.

In this gamethread I write something else. I author a request. Today, I ask you to be a Sounder. Live this thing. Scream this thing. Be bigger than you’ve been before. Be entitled to one thing — our pride in now, pride in past and pride in future. Be heard.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle: Jordan Morris and Harry Shipp are out. Kim Kee-Hee, Waylon Francis and Victor Rodriguez are all listed as questionable.

Loons: Kevin Molino is on the season ending Disabled List. Sam Cronin and Tyrone Mears are listed as out. Marc Burch is questionable.

No players are suspended. No players are in danger of accumulation.

Armando Villarreal is the center referee. His video assistant is Caleb Mendez

nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto

you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep

this is our Sound

Keys to the Game:

• Prepare for cutback passes in defense.
• Darwin floats in depth.
• The return of Dempsey.
• Get in behind from wide spaces.

How I'm watching

Outfit: North America will hear us

Scarf: History. Heritage. Tradition.

Where: Sec 214, Row C

North America will hear us

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How to Watch

Match date/time: April 22 at 1:00 p.m.

Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, Cascadia

Online Streaming: Watch ESPN, YouTube TV (Seattle and Spokane markets)

National TV: ESPN (Healey, Twellman)

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

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

International TV

Asia: beIN Sports (Asia) | Australia: beIN Sports (Australia) | Europe: Eurosport | India: DSport / ATR Media | Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports | Singapore: Starhub | Sub-Saharan Africa: FOX Africa | Taiwan: Sportcast | United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Lineups

Notes: Osvaldo Alonso returns to the starting lineup; Alex and Cristian Roldan starting together for a second straight week; Victor Rodriguez is on the bench along with ... Clint Dempsey? Did not see that one coming.

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs the Loons; watch with us