Obed Vargas notched a brace Monday night and the Seattle Sounders stayed alive in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with a 4-2 win over visiting Minnesota United.

The result tied the best-of-3 series at 1-1 with the deciding match scheduled for Saturday in Saint Paul, Minn. The series winner advances to the conference semifinals on Nov. 22 or Nov. 23 against either the Portland Timbers or top-seeded San Diego FC, who settle their series on Sunday night in Southern California.

Fourth-seeded Minnesota, down 3-2 at halftime, carried play for most of the second half but couldn't pot an equalizing goal. Vargas finally sealed the outcome in the 86th minute by taking Paul Rothrock's pass and wiring a long shot from outside the box into the net.

Daniel Musovski and Jordan Morri

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