Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders

When: 5:55 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
TV: KMSP Ch. 9
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500
Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy, 10 mph northwest wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-155; draw-240; Seattle plus-155

Series history: The Loons are 1-12-2 all-time in MLS play against Seattle, with the lone win coming in July 2021 in St. Paul. MNUFC lost 2-0 at  Lumen Field in league play on June 15.

Form: MNUFC was knocked out of Leagues Cup group stage on July 30, while the Sounders were sent home in the quarterfinals Aug. 17. The Loons were sent home, in part, due to a 2-0 loss at Seattle on July 26.

Quote: Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad was impressed with head coach Eric Ramsay’s ingenuity during the nine-match winless rut into mid-July.

“What stood out for me is the patience, the openness to try things and just do the best with what you have versus having this attitude of, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad,” El-Ahmad said. “Because when you lose and you lose and you lose, it’s very easy to just kind let that mentality bring you down. Misery loves company.”

Absences: Tani Oluwaseyi (hamstring) is out. He has been progressing in his rehab, but Ramsay said next week’s game at San Jose is a more likely return date for the Canadian striker. New Argentine midfielder Joaquín Pereyra (work visa) has not yet arrived in Minnesota.

Look-ahead: Besides Pereyra, four other newcomers might make their MNUFC debuts: striker Kelvin Yeboah, center back Jefferson Diaz, right back Matus Kmet and left back Anthony Markanich.

News: MNUFC2 midfielder Loic Mesanvi, 20, has signed a first-team contract with MNUFC through the 2025 season, with two club options for 2026-27. The Lakeville resident has been energetic in his four appearances with the first team this season. Now he will get a chance to show he belongs full-time.

Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, LW Bongi Hlongwane, FW Tani Oluwaseyi, RW Robin Lod; CM Wil Trapp, CM Hassani Dotson; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Sang Bin Jeong; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Scouting report: Seattle dominated possession and scoring chances in their Leagues Cup match last month. That, of course, was aided by Dotson’s red card in the 65th minute. But for the Loons to capture all three points, they need to gain more control of the ball and not rely on the counter attack.

Prediction: Ramsay’s teams have been so hamstrung by absences in both matchups with the Sounders this season. Outside Oluwaseyi, he has a full roster and a handful of reinforcements from the transfer window. It still isn’t enough in a 1-1 draw.