Minnesota Thunder  2 - 1  Seattle Sounders
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minnesota
A-League Playoffs, 2nd Round (2 matches), 1st Leg

49' MIN: Mladenov
61' SEA: Hattrup
71' MIN: Magee

MIN: John Swallen; John Coughlin, Mark Abboud, Don Gramenz; John Sylvester, Kevin Anderson, Stoian Mladenov, Morgan Zeba; Gabe Garcia (65' Garfield Shaw), Constantin Stanici (65' Gerard Lagos), Amos Magee (73' Tim Foster).

SEA: Dusty Hudock; Bernie James, Jason Annicchero, Randy Mann (52' Ryan Edwards); Scott Jenkins, Brandon Prideaux, Dick McCormick, David Hoggan (72' Fabian Davis), Peter Hattrup; Patrick Beech, Erik Storkson (64' Ian Russell).

The Minnesota Thunder defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 in the first leg of a home and away series in the second round of the A-League playoffs.

After a scoreless first half, Stoian Mladenov opened the scoring off an assist from Amos Magee. Magee and Mladenov stumbled across each other in the penalty area with the ball, and with three Seattle defenders closing in Mladenov took control of the ball and curved a beautiful shot around the Sounders defense, off the left post and into the back of the Sounders net to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute.

Sounders midfielder Peter Hattrup, who scored the match winner against Orange County Sunday, tied the game 12 minutes later in the 61st minute. Jason Annicchero headed a Sounders corner kick right down to Hattrup who was standing unmarked at the Thunder goal area. A surprised Hattrup whiffed at his first shot, and then sneaked a shot between the right post and Thunder defender Don Gramenz to tie the match at 1-1.

Ten minutes later, Magee broke the tie with the eventual match-winner. Thunder midfielder Kevin Anderson delivered a ball to Minnesota forward Gerard Lagos, who turned and passed the ball back to Magee. Magee took the ball and two Sounders defenders to the right, and then curved a shot again around the Seattle defense and into the lower left-hand corner. A stunned GK Dusty Hudock could not make the save.

Seattle had a few late chances but could not crack the Minnesota defense which was content in defending its lead and preserving the win.

The second leg of the home and away series will be contested in Seattle's Memorial Stadium at 5:00 on Sunday, September 20. Seattle would advance with a win by two or more goals (most goals), a 1-0 win (most away goals), or a 2-1 win (most points in the regular season).

Statistics

Shots: MIN 14, SEA 11
Saves: Swallen 4, Hudock 4
Fouls: MIN 12, SEA 11
Offside: MIN 1, SEA 3

Misconduct:
2' McCormick (SEA) cautioned
28' Jenkins (SEA) cautioned

Attendance: 2,084