The Seattle Sounders responded like a team that refuses to fade away. After losing the first match, the squad came back with intensity and beat Minnesota United 4–2 at Lumen Field, tying the first-round MLS Cup playoff series. The result kept the fans’ hopes alive and gave Obed Vargas the face of a comeback fueled by energy and precision. The 19-year-old midfielder opened the scoring and closed it out with two long-range strikes.
A first half that felt like two
The game started at full speed, with Seattle taking control early on. In the eighth minute, Vargas broke the deadlock after a corner kick. He jumped on a loose ball from a failed clearance and fired a left-footed shot from the middle of the box. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair got a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out. Cristian Roldan recovered the ball near the sideline, drove to the byline, and crossed it in. Jesús Ferreira flicked it with his head, and Jordan Morris pushed it into the net. In the 41st minute, the team struck again. Roldan found space down the right, passed to Ferreira, and then to Musovski, who finished cleanly to make it 3–0.
In stoppage time, Minnesota fought back. Triantis pulled one back in the first minute of added time after a play set up by Lod. Moments later, Lod himself took advantage of a long ball from Hlongwane and scored the second. Seattle nearly made it four before the break when Vargas hit the post. The first half ended with six goals and the feeling of a final played early.
Steady until the end
After the break, Seattle managed the tempo better and held off the opponent’s pressure. The team came out more cautious but kept an attacking mindset whenever space opened up. The decisive goal came in the 86th minute. Danny Leyva sent a perfect pass to Paul Rothrock, who slipped past his marker and found Vargas. The youngster struck it first time, the ball deflected, and went in, sealing the 4–2 win.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer praised his team’s focus and effort. “I think the entire team was really motivated to get a good result, or a positive result,” he said. “And I thought that was within our reach from the opening whistle.”
The coach also highlighted Vargas’s performance. “Obed had, once again, a very, very good game. We talked before the match about finding moments to make an impact on the game because a lot of times I say, and this is more of an American football term, ‘You’ve got to make plays to win.’ But what I learned from a great coach is that you can look for those moments to make an impact in the game. And I think Obed certainly did that. It’s just another solid performance from a very good young soccer player.”