Minnesota United started Leagues Cup in a similar refrain to how the club had slogged through MLS play over the previous six week — without several key players available.

For the Loons, it got worse in the 65th minute Friday when Hassani Dotson was sent off with a red card.

The 10-men United on held for 87 minutes, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, but Seattle’s Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock scored late to give the Sounders a 2-0 win in the Leagues Cup West Group 6 at Lumen Field on Friday.

MNUFC will play Mexican club Necaxa in its final group-stage game Tuesday at Allianz Field; Necaxa and Seattle will play Aug. 4 in Washington; and the top two teams advance to the knockout stages of the North American tournament in the second week of August.

Despite St. Clair’s nine saves, including a denial of Albert Rusnak on a penalty kick in stoppage time, Minnesota has now lost all 10 matches in Seattle since 2017.

MNUFC cobbled together a back line with three inexperienced players, including rookie Hugo Bacharach getting his first start since April, converted central midfielder Carlos Harvey and MNUFC2 attacker-turned-wingback Loic Mesanvi. Morris Duggan, another MLS rookie, replaced Bacharach at halftime.

They were challenged by Seattle’s experienced front line, which included Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnak and Pedro de la Vega, with Rothrock off the bench.

Before the Sounders’ goal, Duggan allowed Rothrock space to send a cross. Veteran center back Micky Tapias didn’t clear the ball before Morris finished it. St. Clair had no chance.

“You are perhaps expecting a little bit of a lack of coherence (on the back line), but I would say the error that leads to the first goal is pretty fundamental, so that is pretty disappointing,” Ramsay said. “But I think we did enough to be good value for at least a draw and penalties, I would say, up until that point.”

Dotson’s red card came from a hard tackle of Seattle striker Raul Ruidiaz, who limped off the field four minutes later. Dotson was gone immediately and also will be suspended for Tuesday’s match in St. Paul.

Ramsay said Dotson made a “rash decision,” but then backed off and said he wouldn’t be too critical of the pivotal play.

“I think, and the general consensus amongst the staff, and hopefully stripping any sort of biases aside, is perhaps it’s a hard red there,” Ramsay said. “In the sense that there isn’t a load of malice, he’s very low and he hasn’t come over the ball, so I think there is an argument to say that he’s been slightly hard done by. But, of course, it makes life very difficult for us from that point on.”

Briefly

The Loons on Friday neared the finalization of two summer transfer window additions: forward Kervin Yeboah and defender Jefferson Diaz, a source told Pioneer Press. … Mesanvi, who was called up on short-term loan from MNUFC2, received his first start with the first team on Friday. The Lakeville South graduate was a substitute in the opening two games of the season in February and March. … MNUFC came into Leagues Cup with an overall tournament ranking of 32nd out of 47 clubs. Seattle is 13th, Necaxa 44th. …  … MNUFC played without Robin Lod, Sang Bin Jeong, Michael Boxall, Wil Trapp and DJ Taylor.