MLS: Cincinnati and Minnesota take step towards last eight

Dayne St. Clair proved to be the hero for Minnesota United as they beat the Seattle Sounders in game one of their MLS Cup playoffs first-round clash.

After a goalless 90 minutes at Allianz Field, the hosts prevailed 3-2 in the penalty shootout to win the first of the best-of-three series.

St. Clair saved three of the four shots on target he faced, with the other attempt blocked, before also saving Alex Roldan’s spot kick in the shootout.

Roldan’s brother, Cristian, also missed for Seattle from 12 yards out as he struck the bar, while Minnesota’s victory was confirmed when Danny Leyva also struck the woodwork for the visitors from the spot.

Kelvin Yeboah, Nectarios Triantis and Joaquin Pereyra also dispatched their penalties for Minnesota, who could book their spot in the next round with victory in Seattle next Tuesday.

FC Cincinnati also edged closer to the last eight of the playoffs with a 1-0 win against the Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium.

Kevin Denkey proved to be the difference, scoring from inside the six-yard box after Alvas Powell’s initial effort fell kindly into the path of the striker.

Another win for Cincinnati on November 2 would see them face either Inter Miami or Nashville SC in the next round, with the Herons currently leading 1-0 in that series.

Data Debrief: Rare misfire for Seattle

That result marked Seattle’s first goalless game of the 2025 season, while it was also the first time in eight matches that they failed to score, with their last such match also coming against Minnesota.

However, Seattle looked more likely to score in the 90 minutes, producing 2.37 expected goals (xG) from 14 shots to Minnesota’s 0.96 from 10 attempts.

Meanwhile, it was the eighth 1-0 win of the season for Cincinnati, the most in the league. Including the games lost by the same margin, it was their 12th overall 1-0 contest of the season, also the most in the league.