SEATTLE (AP) — Obed Vargas scored early in the first half and late in the second to help the Seattle Sounders beat Minnesota United 4-2 on Monday night and force a deciding game in a best-of-three first-round MLS Cup series.
After the fifth-seeded Sounders held a scoreless draw in their opening game against fourth-seeded Minnesota United, Vargas took the lead with an unassisted goal in the eighth minute and lost 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
Jordan Morris gave Seattle a two-goal lead in the 21st minute with assists from Jesus Ferreira and Cristian Roldan. This was Morris’ 10th goal in 26 playoff games.
Danny Musovski scored his first postseason goal in his fifth appearance, making it 3-0 in the 41st minute, with assists from Ferreira and Roldan. Ferreira’s assist was his first in eight postseason games. Roldan had never recorded an assist in 33 postseason games.
Minnesota United led 3-2 at halftime with a goal from rookie Nectarios Triantis and Robin Rodd, who assisted Triantis’ netter, four minutes into stoppage time. Bongokule Hlongwane and Joaquín Pereira provided assists for Rod’s goal. Rod has two goals and two assists in 10 playoff games. This was Hlongwane and Pereira’s first assists in their fifth playoff appearance.
Vargas rounded out the scoring with his second goal of the postseason, scoring in the 86th minute with assists from second-half substitute Paul Rothrock and Danny Leyva. It was Rothrock’s first assist in four postseason games and Leiva’s second assist in four games.
Stephen Fry finished with two saves in his 38th playoff start for the Sounders.
Dane St. Clair stopped two shots for Minnesota United in his ninth postseason game.
The rubber match of the series will be played in Minnesota on Saturday.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
