Seattle Sounders beat Minnesota United for first win of season

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:31 am

Gustav Svensson celebrates with his Seattle Sounders teammates after scoring a goal against Minnesota.
Gustav Svensson celebrates with his Seattle Sounders teammates after scoring a goal against Minnesota.
USA Today Images

The Seattle Sounders rode two first-half goals to a much-needed 3-1 win against Minnesota United at CenturyLink Field on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts opened the scoring with aplomb in the 23rd minute when Gustav Svensson finished off an intricate team move with a thunderous shot from 25 yards away to put Seattle up 1-0.

Will Bruin then doubled the Sounders' lead two minutes later, rolling a first-time shot home from eight yards away after Cristian Roldan had picked him out in the penalty area.

Roldan continued to look lively in the second half, forcing a save from Bobby Shuttleworth before setting up Clint Dempsey for a close-range shot that the Minnesota keeper also scooped up.

The Loons clawed one back in the 66th minute when new arrival Darwin Quintero lobbed a volley to the back post where Christian Ramirez headed back across the net and into the goal at the far post.

Dempsey set up Seattle's third, playing Jordy Delem into the area for an easy finish and the 25-year-old's first goal of the season.

The Sounders, who remain in last place in the Western Conference, held on for a three points they desperately needed after earning just one from the first four matches of the regular season.