Minnesota United FC faces its demons in first playoff round

Yes, but: The tide may be turning. MNUFC won both regular-season meetings this year.

State of play: MNUFC lost four of its final five regular season matches. But the team also had little to play for with its postseason seeding all but locked.

• The Loons were also mostly without star striker Kelvin Yeboah, who injured his hamstring mere weeks after the club sold its leading scorer, Tani Oluwaseyi, to a Spanish team. Yeboah's now poised to return.

What they're saying: "Seattle kind of grinds you down with good decision-making and good defensive shape," former Loons coach Manny Lagos said on a recent team podcast.

• Seattle star Jordan Morris also recently returned from injury — and appears to be in top form.

How it works: The teams will play a best-of-three series, with MNUFC enjoying home-field advantage.

• Unlike other soccer playoff formats, goal differential doesn't count: The first team to win two matches advances — and any contest not decided in the regular 90 minutes goes straight to a penalty kick shootout.

Kickoff at Allianz Field is at 8pm Monday, with the match broadcast nationally on FS1 and streaming on Apple TV.