MX23RW : Tuesday, October 1 05:41:48| >> :120:24429:24429:
[monks data]
Austin FC
Major League Soccer
Aug 31, 2023 at 1.30am UK
Al Saqr Stadium
Seattle Sounders

Austin
1 - 2
Seattle

Driussi (72')
Zardes (46'), Valencia (53')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Morris (48'), Rusnak (90')
Ragen (37'), Tolo (87')

Preview: Austin FC vs. Seattle Sounders - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between Austin FC and Seattle Sounders, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bruised from a last-minute defeat at Dallas, Austin FC will be looking to respond when they welcome Seattle Sounders to Q2 Stadium on Wednesday night in MLS.

The hosts are enduring a poor run of form in recent times, while Seattle are still looking to record their first win of August with a single game remaining in the month.


Match preview

Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff reacts on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Austin have now suffered back-to-back defeats in MLS courtesy of a heartbreaking loss against Nico Estevez's Dallas side on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium.

Despite the 67th-minute dismissal of Daniel Pereira, Austin were able to hold out the Western Conference leaders until the dying stages of the match, when Nkosi Tafari popped up with an added-time winner for the Toros.

If you include Los Verdes' two defeats in the Leagues Cup group stage against Mexican outfits Mazatlan and Juarez, the Texas-based club have now lost four games in succession - their poorest run of form since September 2021.

Josh Wolff's men sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, meaning they are just inside the playoff positions ahead of 10th-placed Minnesota United due to their superior head-to-head record.

Austin supporters are still waiting for Gyasi Zardes to rediscover the form which saw him score 19 goals in the 2018 MLS campaign for Columbus Crew - the 31-year-old has netted just six times in 23 league appearances so far this term.

Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer on July 2, 2023© Reuters

Similar to Wednesday night's hosts, Seattle have struggled massively in all competitions over the past few weeks, meaning they are currently six matches without a win.

Brian Schmetzer's men did manage to halt a run of three straight losses over the weekend, when centre-back Yeimar Gomez scored at both ends as the Sounders and Minnesota shared the points at Allianz Field.

Heavy away defeats in the Leagues Cup to Real Salt Lake and Mexican giants Monterrey ended Seattle's participation in that particular competition at the group stage, before a 2-0 loss against Atalanta United marked an unhappy return to MLS action.

The Sounders are currently third in a very competitive Western Conference, with 11th-placed Sporting Kansas City only trailing the Canadians by eight points heading into the closing stages of the regular season.

Striker Jordan Morris is only a goal away from equalling his best campaign in MLS, with the 55-time American international scoring 20 goals in 62 games since returning from a brief loan spell at Swansea City of the English Championship during 2021.

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Austin FC midfielder Ethan Finlay (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Austin will be without the services of midfielder Pereira on Wednesday night after he received his marching orders in the loss at Dallas, meaning Wolff needs to find Alexander Ring a new partner in the hosts' engine room.

Memo Rodriguez is the obvious candidate to replace the suspended Venezuelan, although Jhojan Valencia could also be handed a starting berth for only the ninth time in MLS this year.

Zan Kolmanic is still sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury suffered in April, meaning Irishman Jon Gallagher will start at left-back for Los Verdes.

Seattle are prepared to be without winger Cristian Roldan until early September due to concussion protocol - the 28-year-old last featured in the Leagues Cup defeat at Salt Lake on July 23.

Dylan Teves had largely been limited to bench appearances before sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the month, with the attacker expected back in action in a few weeks' time.


Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Limaa, Cascante, Hedges, Gallagher; Ring, Valencia, Finlay, Wolff, Rigoni; Driussi

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; Roldan; Gomez, Ragen, Tolo; Paulo, Vargas, Rusnak, Lodeiro, Morris; Ruidiaz


SM words green background

We say: Austin FC 1-2 Seattle Sounders

Austin were so close to scrapping a point at Dallas last time out before an added-time winner for the Hoops, and you question whether Los Verdes will be able to bounce back quickly from that disappointment.

Seattle ended their losing streak at Minnesota on the weekend, and we are backing them to earn their first victory in any form since July 9 at Q2 Stadium in Texas.

How to watch

You can watch Austin FC vs. Seattle Sounders and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Game History

How you voted: Austin vs Seattle

Austin FC
25.0%
Draw
16.7%
Seattle Sounders
58.3%
12
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami31198469452465
2Columbus Crew30169560332757
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati31175953411256
4Orlando City31137115346746
5New York City FCNY City31128114844444
6New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls31101474844444
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC31119113734342
8Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia319101258481037
9CF MontrealMontreal31910124461-1737
10Toronto32114173956-1737
11Atlanta UnitedAtlanta31810134145-434
12DC United31810134663-1734
13Nashville SCNashville3189143147-1633
14New England RevolutionNew England3094173360-2731
15Chicago Fire3279163755-1830

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy31177763461758
2Real Salt LakeSalt Lake311410762471552
3Los Angeles FCLos Angeles30157854411352
4Seattle SoundersSeattle31148946341250
5Colorado RapidsColorado31155115853550
6Houston DynamoHouston3113994334948
7Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver3013895041947
8Portland TimbersPortland311291064541045
9Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd31136125348545
10Dallas31107145052-237
11Austin FCAustin3199133444-1036
12St Louis City31713114658-1234
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3287175061-1131
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3153233772-3518


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