Everything you need to know about Sounders-Minnesota

The Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United looking to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games and to win their second straight. Minnesota come into the match on a four-game losing streak and with just one win in their last 15.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Pedro de la Vega — Quad; Jesús Ferreira — Hamstring; Dejan Joveljić — International Duty; Nikola Petković — Knee; Paul Rothrock — Hamstring

Minnesota

OUT: Carlos Harvey — International Duty;Joaquín Pereyra — Lower Extremity; Alec Smir — International Duty; Peter Stroud — Lower Extremity; Nectarios Triantis — International Duty

Opposition players to watch

Kelvin Yeboah: The striker has been on an absolute tear over the last month or so, scoring six goals and adding two assists over his past six games. He’s got size and speed to cause all kinds of trouble.

Anthony Markanich: After being deployed mostly as a left back last year, Markanich has moved into the defensive midfield this year. That hasn’t hurt his production much, as he has seven goals and three assists so far. He’s particularly dangerous on set-pieces.

Stats to look smart

17 – United have quietly have had one of the top attacks over the past month, scoring 17 goals in their last six games. Amazingly, they’ve only won one of those matches and come into this one on a four-game losing streak.

6 – The Sounders are currently on a six-game unbeaten streak, albeit with just one win. This is the third time this year they’ve gone at least six straight without a loss this season.

Tactics to impress

Known for their anti-football tactics a year ago, Minnesota have progressed considerably. They don’t exactly want the ball but they aren’t nearly as afraid of it as they once were. They remain quite dangerous on set-pieces with 11 goals, however.
The Sounders are still not defending as aggressively as they did last year, but they are showing signs of getting back there. The RSL win was their second highest average line of confrontation since the return from the World Cup break.