Furious rally gets Seattle Sounders past Minnesota United, into MLS Cup

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:11 am

Gustav Svensson scored off a corner kick from Nicolas Lodeiro in second-half stoppage time as the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders rallied from a two-goal deficit late in the second half to defeat visiting Minnesota United FC 3-2 on Monday night in the Western Conference final.

Will Bruin and Raul Ruidiaz also scored late goals for the second-seeded Sounders, who will play in their fourth title in the past five years.

The Sounders will face the Columbus Crew in MLS Cup on the road Saturday. The Crew advanced with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday.

- Schmetzer: Seattle were 'socked in the jaw' by Minnesota

- Stream LIVE games, replays on ESPN networks (U.S. only)

All of Seattle's goals Monday came in the 75th minute or later after fourth-seeded Minnesota built a 2-0 lead.

Emanuel Reynoso had a goal and an assist and Bakaye Dibassy also scored for the Loons.

Svensson, who came on as a substitute in the 77th minute, headed Lodeiro's corner from the right wing just inside the far post in the third of four extra minutes.

Reynoso opened the scoring in the 29th minute on a free kick from 27 yards. Dibassy made it 2-0 in the 67th minute on a header off a free kick from Reynoso.

Bruin, who came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute, scored two minutes later to start the comeback. He picked up a loose ball after Ruidiaz's shot was blocked in the penalty area and put a 10-yard shot inside the left post.

Seattle Sounders celebrate
Seattle Sounders celebrate
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Ruidiaz tied it in the 89th minute after Lodeiro's corner. The ball pinballed off a couple of players out front before falling to Ruidiaz at the right corner of the 6-yard box. He blasted a shot past rookie Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make it 2-2.

Reynoso set a single-season league record with his seventh assist of the playoffs.

Ruidiaz had a goal waved off in the 53rd minute. He took a through ball from Cristian Roldan, knocking down Minnesota defender Michael Boxall in the process, before drilling an 18-yard shot into the lower left corner of the net. Referee Ismael Elfath didn't originally whistle a foul on the play but changed his mind once he checked the video review.

Seattle goalie Stefan Frei made three saves in the victory.