MLS playoffs: Minnesota United defeats Sounders in heart-pounding penalty shootout after bonkers Game 3

Minnesota United is heading to the Western Conference semifinals after one of the wildest games in MLS playoff history. The Loons picked up a 3(7)-3(6) win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, in Game 3 of the best-of-three series.

Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, the recently crowned MLS Keeper of the Year, proved his title with a heroic performance. After holding off nine on-target Sounders shots, St. Clair picked up a game-winning save in the shootout before knocking in what ended up being the game-winning PK.

But first, let’s rewind a bit to cover a game with six goals, 20 penalty kicks, a red card, multiple comebacks and everything on the line.

After a 4-2 win in Game 2, the Sounders picked up right where they left off: Albert Rusnák found the back of the net in the fifth minute, before Danny Musovski scored another in the eighth.

Minnesota crept back into it, with Joaquín Pereyra hitting a perfect free kick into the goal in the 19th minute. But a straight red card for Minnesota defender Joseph Rosales in the 41st minute, after Rosales head-butted Seattle forward Jesús Ferreira during a verbal altercation, seemed to spell doom for the Loons.

However, Minnesota came out of halftime strong: Jefferson Díaz picked up a short-handed goal in the 62nd minute, before Anthony Markanich gave the Loons the lead by scoring in the 71st.

Things weren’t quite done yet, though. Sounders star forward Jordan Morris stepped up in the 88th minute for an equalizer off a corner kick, keeping things alive for Seattle.

Under MLS playoff rules, the first-round games head straight to PKs after regulation ends. With a penalty shootout incoming, the Sounders subbed out starting goalkeeper Stefan Frei late in the game for keeper Andrew Thomas — a penalty specialist who led Seattle to its first Leagues Cup trophy.

The shootout started with good news for Seattle, as Pereyra sent his penalty wide. But then Thomas appeared to injured his left hand while diving for the miss, leading to a lengthy stoppage as the medical staff taped up the keeper’s fingers.

PKs continued, with Sounders forward Jordan Morris hitting the crossbar to bring the score even. And for several rounds, both teams sunk shots even as Thomas and St. Clair got their hands on a few.

In the middle of the shootout, Thomas — injured hand and all — picked up back-to-back saves, giving the Sounders two chances to seal the game. But on both potentially game-winning attempts, Seattle missed, first with Obed Vargas’ shot hitting the post and then Osaze de Rosario’s shot getting saved by St. Clair.

Eventually, as the shootout reached 20 kicks, both teams went through the rotation, meaning it was time for the keepers themselves to kick. St. Clair went first, sinking a shot past Thomas to put the Loons ahead again.

And then, with everything on the line, Thomas stepped up for his kick, and hit it off the crossbar to seal Minnesota’s victory.

It’s a brutal ending for Seattle, which fall short after a solid 2025 campaign. The Sounders, one of the most decorated teams in the league, have had a few (comparatively) down seasons, and were looking like a team that could go far in these playoffs.

Instead, it will be Minnesota, which gets revenge for Seattle’s comeback win in the 2020 Western Conference Final and advances to the quarterfinals for just the third time in franchise history.

The Loons will face off against either San Diego FC or the Portland Timbers, with the No. 1 and No. 8 seeds (respectively) competing in Game 3 of Round 1 on Monday.