Americans at home: a little light this week

There were but four games since the last time we checked in on the Americans at home and this week was a bit sparse in terms of notable things done by those players in the domestic league. Still, we shall check in on what they did manage to do in the four matches over that time.

A shutout for Seattle

To start things off, the Seattle Sounders held on for a 1-0 win over FC Dallas to move onto the Western Conference final. For Seattle, Jordan Morris went 89 minutes with a shot and Cristian Roldan went the full 90 presumably getting his kit dirty somehow. Dallas was eliminated and did not manage a shot on target in the match robbing us of a chance to see Bryan Reynolds, Tanner Tessmann Jesus Ferreria and Ricardo Pepi in the final.

A blowout for Minnesota

As far as scarce highlights for Americans... well, the Loons are pretty devoid of them. Their starting XI has just two Americans, Ethan Finlay and Chase Gasper (who will now be known as Ghase Casper because I think it’s funny even if it isn’t). Neither will probably be in the USMNT picture, but the team did manage to stomp Sporting KC by a score of 3-0 after finding the net three times in 12 minutes.

As for SKC, they will be very upset they did not score in the first 15 minutes. The team swarmed the Minnesota goal and looked sure to score, but the ball would not go into the net. Jaylin Lindsay and Khiry Shelton went the full 90 while Gianluca Busio had a rough night and came off at the 56th minute.

A squeaker for the Crew

Give the New England Revolution credit, once Carles Gil got healthy the team remembered how to play soccer and found their way to the Eastern Conference finals. Their luck would run out against the Columbus Crew as a solid goal scored by Artur put them past the Revs. For his part, Gyasi Zardes had five shots with one on goal while Darlington Nagbe was untouchable in midfield. Meanwhile, Matt Turner made six saves in the game but couldn’t stop one from going into the net. The Crew are onto the final and that means Mapfre Stadium will get one last moment in the spotlight.

And the Sounders are back in the MLS Cup

I have a working theory that if you give up a goal to Will Bruin you don’t deserve to win. Minnesota United turned that into a prophecy after the team went up 2-0 away to the Sounders, holding that lead into the 75th minute. That’s when substitute Will Bruin drew the home side within one.

Give Will credit, he was in position to make the play because he jumped out of the way of accidentally blocking his teammate’s shot. Good job Will. What else can you say but thanks Hamingja.

The Sounders would score two more goals at the death with Raul Ruidiaz drawing the match even in the 89th minute and then Gustav Svensson dispatching the Loons in the third minute of injury time. Of the notable Americans in the match, Jordan Morris had three shots including hitting the post in the 65th minute and Cristian Roldan committed one foul. Of the less notable Americans, Ethan Finlay drew the foul that led to a goal scored on a free kick by Emanual Reynoso in the 29th minute to put the Loons up by one while Ghase Casper went the full 90.

This sets up the 10th time or something the Sounders have made it to MLS Cup. Hamingja!