When the Seattle Sounders and Minnesota United meet in the Western Conference Final Monday (9:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) at Lumen Field, it will be a matchup of teams seemingly vastly different.
The Sounders have been a model of consistency, both in terms of a 12-year streak of reaching the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and deep runs in the competition. Seattle are attempting to reach MLS Cup for the fourth time in five years.
On the other end are Minnesota United, which enter unchartered territory with each postseason win.
But look a bit deeper and there’s more similar than different, especially when the focus shifts to players who should be difference makers Monday night.
The Sounders big three are much ballyhooed with Nico Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz and Jordan Morris all making MLS Best XI presented by The Home Depot and raising their level even more in the playoffs.
Watch: Seattle "big three" combine for goal vs. LAFC
“Sometimes you are more vulnerable when you are attacking because then the field gets opened up and stretched and they have that space in behind your back four to utilize Jordan’s incredible pace,” Loons boss Adrian Heath said. “It’s something we’re going to have to be aware of and it’s easier said than done stopping it.”
Recognition for the Loons key attacking pieces, especially Kevin Molino and Emanuel Reynoso, have come more in the playoffs where the dynamic duo, along with the tactical switch of utilizing Robin Lod as a false nine, have transformed the Loons into an attacking juggernaut. Including a Decision Day presented by AT&T win over FC Dallas, Minnesota have won three straight matches with the same 3-0 scoreline.
“It’s something we spoke about internally because Robin’s played up there before,” Heath said of Lod. “When he plays for Finland, he plays underneath [Teemu] Pukki so he’s used to playing up the field. We just thought having another player who can come and join in with Kev and Rey and Ethan, we’d like to see it in a game.”
As for Molino and Reynoso’s partnership, they first combined for a goal in a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Sept. 6, but Heath said them click from the start, despite the language barrier. In a 3-0 Western Conference Semifinal win over Sporting Kansas City, Reynoso set up both of Molino's goals en route to a second consecutive three-assist game.
Watch: Emanuel Reynoso sets up Kevin Molino for two goals vs. Sporting KC
“Rey came to me after one of the drink breaks within the first 10-15 minutes of going, pointed to Molino [and said] ‘Muy bien, muy bien,’” Heath said. “Players know quality when they play with them and obviously they’re both on the same wavelength, both have a great understanding of the game. … That will only get better the more they play together as well.”
“Football is a universal language. You don’t need to speak the same language as the person to understand them on the field,” Molino added. “Right away we were on the same page with him, not just him, but the whole team feeds off of him, a No. 10 that works so hard off the ball too in incredible. We see all the nice stuff he creates, but off the ball he puts in the work for the group. He’s not selfish, he’s about the team and we fully support that.”
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said, although it might sound simplistic, he believes the match will be decided by those special players.
“Monday, when the game's played, the team that makes the most plays, whether it's Reynoso or Nico or Lod or Raul or Jordan or Molino, which team makes the most plays, they're going to win,” Schmetzer said.
And there’s a mutual respect between the coaches. Adrian Heath said when he first arrived in the United States, Brian Schmetzer was one of the first people he encountered.
“We spent a few days up in Seattle and he looked after me incredibly well and we’ve been tight ever since,” he said.
Beyond the tactics, the similarities between Heath and Schmetzer include their choice of postmatch vino — red, of course.
“We’ll no doubt, win or lose, we’ll have a couple of glasses after the game,” Heath said.
