Sounders v. Minnesota United: Three Questions

There are two down points on the Seattle Sounders season — their sole road loss at Minnesota United and the home struggles, which showed up all at once in a frustrating streak. Saturday’s match (2 PM PT, JOEtv/Prime Video) offers an opportunity to purge both of those down points.

Both teams will be slightly reduced due to the recently of the three-match international break. The 8-6-7, +0 Loons are currently in their own injury woes. With a depleted roster they may be forced into the very game plan that has put Seattle into the home funk.

For e pluribus Loonum, Ashle answers Three Questions.

SaH: Loons get off a lot of shots, but are the lowest scoring good team in the league. Who needs to course correct to get the offense performing at its expected level?

epl: This is something I do not have an answer to. MNUFC has consistently had scoring — well, mostly striker — issues, since they joined MLS. Christian Ramirez, MNUFC’s all-time leading scorer, had 70 goals in 141 appearances across all competitions in the NASL and MLS. He’s now over in Scotland with Aberdeen having that same production percentage (5 goals across 11 appearances). Outside of him Minnesota really hasn’t had a great striker up top. It always seems MNUFC picks up a new striker every year to correct those woes and they never change. This year Robin Lod has come into his own as a goal scorer, which has helped, but well... injuries. At this point maybe it’s a combination of style of play, coaching, personnel, or all.

SaH: Hassani Dotson continues to grow and influence the team. How important is the Federal Way player to Minnesota’s success?

epl: Dotson has been huge, he can seemingly play pretty much every position on the pitch. The 24 year-old has a bright future ahead, especially with seven U23 NT appearances to his name. I can’t say enough about how good he is on the pitch. Hopefully MNUFC can keep him long term.

SaH: Any significant absences over the international break? Will they still be starters on the quick return to league play?

epl: Absences, yes. Significant not so much. That is however, entirely due to the injury report, which is honestly the bigger of the issues. I do not have the official injury report as of writing this, but it hasn’t been good. There is a good chance that possibly everyone coming back from the international break will be rostered against Seattle. The Loons need all hands on deck right now.

After our conversation the official injury report came out. Loons are without a lot of their top talent.

Check out their previews and the Reverse when they are up.