The Sounders have another massive game coming up, and this one’s against fellow playoff hopefuls Minnesota United. The Loons are absolutely reeling, man, coming off four straight defeats where they gave up a shocking 14 goals. They only have two wins in their last ten, so you know they’re desperate for a turnaround. But even with all that chaos, there’s one dude who’s making things happen for them: Joaquín Pereyra. He’s the engine, the guy who can unlock any defense, and he is a top priority for our boys to shut down.
This Maestro’s Numbers Are Absolutely Bonkers
You want to talk about creators? Pereyra is tied for third in all of MLS with 12 assists, trailing only legends like Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min. That’s not a typo, folks. He’s literally in that conversation. But it’s not just the headline assist numbers. This guy is also level with Messi for second assists among MLS attackers, racking up four of those sneaky setup plays. He’s fourth in the league for progressive passes with 266, sixth for through balls with 21, and sixth for key passes with 26. He also owns sixth place for passes into the final third with 219 and eighth for deep completions with 53. Seriously, every dangerous sequence Minnesota creates, Pereyra is at the heart of it. What’s even crazier is he puts up these ridiculous numbers for a Minnesota side that barely holds onto the ball, boasting the sixth-lowest average possession share in the league at 46.2%. He’s still firing off 2.05 shot assists per 90 minutes. That’s a dude who makes something out of nothing.
How Pereyra Carves Up Any Defense He Faces
Pereyra’s passing toolbox is insane. He can thread incisive line-breaking deliveries, hit those raking switches of play, pull off clever one-twos, deliver precise cutbacks, and slice defenses apart with through balls. His distribution just constantly ignites Minnesota’s attacks. And it’s not just pure skill. The guy is smart about it, too. He uses his eyes and body shape to disguise passes, throwing defenders off balance and adding an extra layer of unpredictability. He’s an intelligent mover with elite awareness and scanning, always showing up in the right spot to connect passes and keep attacks alive. Watch for him to drift towards the right flank and right half-space. That’s where he finds the time and space to pick out teammates with pinpoint accuracy. On top of all that, he’s got crafty dribbling skills, complete with tidy feints, sharp changes of pace, and a bag of skill moves. Even when it looks like defenders have him boxed in, he somehow creates the separation needed to make his move.
Our Sounders need to be locked in for this one. Minnesota is a playoff hopeful like us, and while they’re struggling, Pereyra is a game-wrecker. Shutting him down is the key to getting a crucial result against a desperate opponent. We need to match their desperation and then some.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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