Last weekend’s defeat to Minnesota was one of the most disappointing losses in team history. There’s no way to sugarcoat how much that sucked. The match began with a surge of euphoria: up two goals within the first ten minutes, the team seemed set to cruise. Even after conceding one goal, they gained a man advantage, maintaining a comfortable gamestate. Yet, in a recurring theme of the 2025 season, the team disastrously sabotaged itself. They not only missed multiple opportunities to seal the win, but also conceded numerous set pieces, a courtesy their opponent refused to return.
Seattle frustratingly allowed two more goals, nearly losing the match in regular time. A game they led by two, then by one with a man advantage, had devolved into a frantic scramble for an equalizer. Miraculously, they found the late goal, and bolstered by a courageous goalkeeping change, they earned the chance to win a game they should have dominated easily.
The penalty shootout proved to be the ultimate heartbreak, mirroring the match itself. Seattle controlled the shootout and had multiple chances to secure the win. However, like in regular time and throughout the 2025 season, the Sounders failed to execute, providing opportunities for an unforgiving opponent. When Seattle missed, in the tenth round of penalties, it was heartbreaking. This match, which started out so well, ended as a microcosm of the season, with the Sounders meekly bowing out.
Burn bright: The highs were so high. A brilliantly worked team goal to open the scoring, a pressing, dominant game plan that earned an early multi-goal lead. A confidence that forced the opponent to lose their cool. Even the resilience to stay calm and earn a late equalizer when all appeared lost. There were so many positives in this match that it felt inevitable they’d endure and move on.
Flameout: Somehow the team managed to fumble away a multi-goal lead, despite being up a man. They had numerous chances that didn’t become goals, and they gifted way too many opportunities to Minnesota. In penalties they dominated, earning multiple attempts to end it on their terms with a single shot, and yet they failed to execute. This was a bitter and much too early finish to the 2025 season.
Goalkeeper
Stefan Frei – 5 | Community – 5.5 (off 89’ for Thomas)
Frei played 90 minutes and was left out to dry by his defense on multiple occasions. It’s unlikely he could have saved the first goal, a beautiful free kick that was earned via a foul in a bad spot. Later, he was beaten on two headers, neither time able to get across the goal and track a back post shot. Stef’s passing remains underrated, and he was excellent at helping his defense keep deep control of the ball.
Burn bright: He didn’t have a lot to do while he was in, and wasn’t impressive. But that sub for Thomas wouldn’t have happened if Frei wasn’t okay with it, so it’s a classy move that he agreed.
Flameout: Frei didn’t look great on any of the goals against, gave up three, and was subbed for another guy to take penalties. If that’s the end for Stef, I’ll choose to remember him in a different match.
Defense
Nouhou – 6 | Community – 5.9 (off 89’ for Minoungou)
Nouhou’s growth in moving the ball forward and decision making was on full display against Minnesota. He continued to offer strong service from wide areas, and perhaps more importantly, didn’t charge forward and force the issue as has been a problem in the past.
Burn bright: Nouhou played an excellent ball just moments into the game to earn a secondary assist on the first Seattle goal. This was a pinpoint cross into a dangerous area of the box and onto the foot of a striker.
Flameout: Subbed late to bring on more offensive firepower, Nouhou’s season ended with a strong performance that highlighted his limits at attacking and combining offensively, which were apparently necessary in this game.
Jackson Ragen – 7 | Community – 6.5
With 90 percent passing and nine defensive contributions, this was Ragen in great form all night. Always pushing forward, his 101 touches were instantly translated into nine passes into the attacking third. Consistently a tall force to help deny crosses, Jackson was solid on an evening that saw multiple defensive failures.
Burn bright: He did so much right, controlling possession and finding great service from the back. He won a 38th minute backside header that nearly had Seattle scoring a third. He was constantly part of strong defense and transition offense. He calmly stepped up and finished his penalty with a deserved swagger.
Flameout: Seattle needed a perfect game on set pieces, and that meant Ragen, especially, needed to win just about everything. His miscommunication with Yeimar allowed the first set piece, and the defense didn’t clear the other two.
Yeimar – 5 | Community – 5.7 (off 74’ for De Rosario)
Yeimar had a rough night, with a few particularly damning stats. He lost all four of his ground duels, and his two fouls were in rough spots to defend. He earned an early yellow card, which likely impacted his ability to bump with opponents, so of course Minnesota took advantage with overly physical play in response. Despite having a rough outing, Yeimar still combined well and limited much of the opponent’s attack.
Burn bright: The highlights were still there: the physical play, the speed to keep up on counter attacks, the range to come across to help, and the aerial ability to win crucial defensive headers.
Flameout: Yeimar gave up a foul in an awful spot, and Minnesota clawed a goal back when Seattle looked to be cruising. Then he was beaten on the second goal, against the run of play again. In a massive game for Seattle, he wasn’t sharp, and the little mistakes added up.
Alex Roldan – 6 | Community – 6.3
Even ailing, Alex gutted through a full 90 minutes on the field and then hobbled up and finished his spot kick. Although he only had one shot, a number of dangerous passes and combinations meant the Seattle attack was balanced through both sides. He was 5/7 on ground duels.
Burn bright: Alex did all the little things on offense that link up and create space for others, and he added his own direct plays on goal, nearly scoring or dialing up some late assists with beautiful first-time service into the box. He stepped up and made his penalty under immense pressure.
Flameout: Alex might be in the running to play center back next year after how well he’s played there, but he must get better and stronger in the air, as Minnesota victimized him on the second goal.
Defensive Midfield
Cristian Roldan – 8 (MOTM) | Community – 7.2 (MOTM)
As usual, it was the Cristian Roldan show in the midfield, and he brought all the energy and intensity needed. It started with winning a massive 10 duels (out of 14), adding five shots, and offering two key passes. The king of bringing the ball effectively into attack, Cristian passed into the final third an incredible 16 times, continually starting the attack with vision and precision. He was dispossessed only one time all night, as part of a definitive masterclass in the middle.
Burn bright: For much of the game, Cristian was the best player on the field. He did everything from consistent defensive recoveries, to making decisive central runs that ripped apart the Loons defense, to getting in the box for shots. When the game was on the line, he found the ball and a brilliant assist in the 88th minute to give his team life.
Flameout: With a chance to put the game out of reach in the 51st minute, Cristian’s shot was blocked. Somehow, even as a team leader, he has a poor record in penalties. And although he didn't get a chance to show it in this shootout, he tends to beat the keeper but hit the post or crossbar a lot.
Obed Vargas – 5 | Community – 5.9
Paired with the omnipresent Roldan, Vargas combined well with his midfield partner and filled in the small patches of the field that Cristian didn’t cover. Obed was okay in this match, with 80 percent passing and doing a lot of thankless running to hold position for the team. He had seven defensive contributions and six passes into the final third, but both of his shots were blocked.
Burn bright: With brilliant moments like his 32nd minute turn in traffic, you can see the skill just oozing off of Obed. Paired with Roldan, he showed time and again the ability to link up in the middle and control the play.
Flameout: At times trying too much, Vargas wasn’t able to reproduce his success from the home match, instead turning the ball over in some crucial moments. Worse, he lost his mark when Minnesota was equalizing the score. With a chance to win in penalties, he failed to put his shot on frame (or too much frame?) – banging it off the post with the goal wide open and the keeper diving in the other direction.
Attacking Midfield
Jesús Ferreira – 7 | Community – 6.1 (off 74’ for Kent)
Jesús started on the left, and again he looked great creating space and connecting with teammates. He turned his 44 touches into three key passes and had some good connection plays, drifting forward and central to help Albert Rusnák control possession and create big chances against Minnesota. Jesús added two recoveries as he remained cognizant of his defensive responsibilities.
Burn bright: This game was a perfect example of how Jesús takes what the opponent gives him and pushes that boundary further and further. He was constantly linking up with teammates, with three key passes, none better than in the 51st minute when he put Cristian forward. Three minutes later the favor was returned and he helped set up Albert, which should have iced the match. It was his cross that was misplayed for Sounders goal number two.
Flameout: Seattle needed a little more, and had Albert finished the layup created by Jesús and Cristian, they'd likely still be playing. What was missing was again the goal-direct play, and even though the team scored three, they apparently needed four. With only a single shot, the Sounders needed more from Ferreira.
Albert Rusnák – 8 | Community – 6.8
Albert had four shots, three key passes, a goal, and made his penalty to lead off the shootout. He was good in all aspects of the match, finding personal and team success with his movement and connectivity. He had 92 percent passing and only lost possession a single time.
Burn bright: After being somewhat quiet in the previous match, Albert erupted against Minnesota in the final game. Starting five minutes in, he finished an audacious first-time half volley, a stunning bit of talent. He followed this up with an entire match of solid control, feeding others for chance after chance and finding direct spots on goal.
Flameout: One of the biggest moments of the match came in the 54th minute when Jesús found Cristian on a run forward, who pulled it back to the penalty spot where Albert was completely unmarked. His shot was aimed behind the keeper who was following the ball, and with the goal gaping in front of him, Albert finished onto the post and out. This was a defining moment that could have ended the match, but instead Minnesota fought on.
Jordan Morris – 7 | Community – 6.0
Starting again on the wing, Jordan only had 33 touches but made them count. He had two shots, with one being denied by an excellent save and the other a crucial late equalizer to push the match to penalties. Also a tireless defender, Morris created some big transition moments, breakouts, and two key header clearances as he supported on set pieces defensively.
Burn bright: His 38th minute shot had to be saved off the line by a desperate kick from the Minnesota goalie. Playing hard to the final whistle, when Cristian found a nifty touch on an 88th minute corner it was Jordan who was there to smash home a massive equalizer and give the team momentum heading into the shootout.
Flameout: A mistouch in the 7th minute ruined what might have been another Seattle goal. An unnecessary foul in the 47th meant yet another dangerous free kick for Minnesota. His penalty was struck hard, but not placed in the goal, and instead of Seattle keeping advantage in the shootout, they gave it away on kick #2.
Striker
Danny Musovski – 6 | Community – 6.5 (off 61’ for Rothrock)
With two shots and 8/9 passing on 17 touches, this was a typical poacher’s game where Danny took advantage of his big chance and put it away. Otherwise, he was fairly absent from the Sounders’ game plan that was mostly disrupted by their own early success.
Burn bright: A lovely pass off a Nouhou cross in the first five minutes found the deadly Rusnák for a goal. The ultimate poacher found one for himself moments later. When Minnesota mishandled an innocuous cross in the 8th minute, the ball fell to Danny who adeptly touched it home. It was a perfect start for the Sounders, who led 2-0 just 10 minutes into the match.
Flameout: Another match, another time Musovski didn’t give much during his time on the field. He barely touched the ball, didn’t help with build up play, and subbed out with a half hour left.
Substitutes
Paul Rothrock – 5 | Community – 6.0 (on 61’ for Musovski)
Paul came in to add a different look, and he managed a key pass but only a 71 percent pass completion rate. At times he lacked the precision needed to penetrate the defense. He won his three duels, and he even played some left back late in the match.
Burn bright: Rothrock stepped up and made his penalty.
Flameout: Tasked with coming in to make a difference, Seattle immediately conceded upon Paul’s arrival. He added little outside of effort, and when the team desperately needed calm, then a spark, he wasn’t able to provide either.
Ryan Kent – 5 | Community – 5.4 (on 74’ for Ferreira)
In his return to the Sounders, Kent got 15 minutes to attack, and he did that, creating a shot and a key pass. He struggled to fit into the team’s movement, especially combining with Nouhou who crowded his space. Kent completed a single cross, and had no successful dribbles.
Burn bright: The skill to beat his man was there on a few occasions, with Kent making space and lifting dangerous passes to others. He stepped up in a pressure moment and took an excellent penalty.
Flameout: Supposedly brought in to bring an offensive spark, Kent instead deferred to Nouhou. Then he made a couple of nice runs that ended in overhit backpost crosses that it seemed no teammates were familiar with, even though he has been doing that since he arrived in Seattle.
Osaze De Rosario – 5 | Community – 4.9 (on 74’ for Yeimar)
Osaze came in late, completed all his passes, set up a teammate for a shot, got one of his own that he nearly scored, and was a big target for Seattle to pivot off of when chasing a goal. His header shot went wide, and he even added two defensive recoveries in an active shift that helped bring energy.
Burn bright: Put in late to take up space, ODR planted himself in the six yard box and occupied multiple players for his entire time on the field. Several times he was barely denied, once with his head and twice defended well from excellent Alex Roldan service.
Flameout: With a chance to add to his reputation for scoring in big time games, Osaze missed his penalty in rough fashion, with a try that wasn’t taken well and was easily saved.
Georgi Minoungou – 5 | Community – 5.6 (on 89’ for Nouhou)
Entering late after Seattle equalized was Minoungou, and with eight minutes of extra time, there was enough match left for Georgi to get a few chances to cook. He completed all five of his passes, but wasn’t able to impact the match positively until he stepped up to take his penalty.
Burn bright: Brought in for Nouhou late, Georgi got the ball in space on a few occasions and drew immediate double- and triple-teams, which should have opened up other spaces, especially with Seattle being a man up.
Flameout: Minoungou didn’t seem to get out of first gear in regulation, getting a few chances but balking at trying to beat multiple defenders, electing to play through teammates. His penalty scored, but wasn’t particularly awe inspiring.
Andrew Thomas – 7 | Community – 7.6 (on 89’ for Frei)
This was a gutsy – and correct – move to have Andrew enter the match late with a chance to defend penalties. Saving a sub window meant after Cristian and Jordan created some late magic, the Sounders were able to put Thomas in. He responded with an excellent showing, doing more than enough for the Sounders to win.
Burn bright: Brian Schmetzer made a brave move to bring in Thomas at the end of the match, and it paid off, as immediately Andrew scared Minnesota into missing their first penalty. He would save and force multiple other misses, giving Seattle multiple chances to win it.
Flameout: Given the final penalty, he hit the snot out of the ball, but like other teammates, he found only the woodwork. After all that, Seattle went home on a goalkeeper PK miss.
Referee
Victor Rivas – 6 | Community – 5.7
As far as playoff referee jobs go, this was neither the best nor the worst. Similar to many postseason games, a lot was allowed, with only 21 total fouls. Minnesota led with 13, and they earned four of the five yellow cards as well as a red, as they brought their usual cynical physicality. Playing for set pieces and dead balls requires a lot of this play, and while the ref called fewer overall fouls, the home team made them count.
Burn bright: There were definite highlights from the referee team, including ignoring flop after flop as Minnesota tried to earn penalties and set pieces to get back into the game. The red card was immediate and authoritative.
Flameout: The lack of calls got even more audacious throughout the match. Jesús was at one point two-hand shoved with no call; other times there were mere warnings after persistent fouls. The most egregious might have been a 52nd minute yellow card that stopped a clean break: it should have been “played on” with a retroactive card, but instead was whistled dead, and Seattle missed a massive chance.
Minnesota United MOTM
Big Dayne, again (pronounced with a British accent, for rhyming purposes). The cocky Canadian did just enough over the course of the match, whether it was coming up big against Morris in the 38th, keeping his side in it throughout the shootout, or putting an end to said shootout, first by converting his attempt before standing tall against his opposite number.
Upcoming: This has been a long season, with 50 ratings posts so far. Thank you all so much for reading them. I’m gonna decompress. Then, when Charlie or Diane remind me, I’ll start on the player recaps. It might be a few weeks.
I would like to dedicate our 2025 ratings to Steven Caldwell, who recently passed. I know he’s proud of Charlie; I sure am. Love ya, buddy.
