The final encounter of the Major League Soccer (MLS) weekend will feature Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders, who face each other on Sunday at Lumen Field.
A 4-0 victory over the Columbus Crew last weekend enabled the Rave Green to maintain their fifth place standing in the Western Conference, while Sporting are eight points below the playoff line in 12th following a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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It has been a roller coaster couple of months for Seattle, who are seeking consecutive victories in this competition for the first time since mid-July.
Their 4-0 victory over the Crew was their largest away win in MLS this year, putting them within reach of home-field advantage in the opening round of the post-season, just a point below the Colorado Rapids for fourth in the West, heading into this weekend.
Brian Schmetzer's men have points in eight of their previous nine MLS contests at Lumen Field but were beaten by Los Angeles FC in their last home game (3-0) and are on the verge of losing successive home matches in this competition for the first time all season.
As usual, the Sounders have been among the toughest sides to penetrate defensively in MLS this year, conceding the joint second-fewest goals in the league thus far (32).
In 13 domestic contests in Seattle this year, the Sounders have only given up 11 goals, which is tied for the fewest in the league.
Seven of their previous nine matches in this competition ended with the Rave Green collecting maximum points, including six home wins in their last seven league outings at Lumen Field.
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Sporting are nearing do-or-die time in their quest to finish in a top-nine place and qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs for a second successive campaign.
After 28 regular-season fixtures, Peter Vermes's men have collected a mere 28 points in MLS, four fewer than they had at this stage a year ago.
So far in 2024, Kansas City have won just two away matches in this competition but can equal their number of wins as the visitors from 2023 with a victory on Sunday.
In their last six matches, when netting at least twice, the Sounders have emerged victorious each time, with the previous two being shutout victories.
SKC have failed to win seven domestic encounters in 2024 when scoring first, accounting for 18 points dropped in the competition this year.
They have won seven of the previous 10 meetings against Seattle in this competition, including two of their last three at Lumen Field by a 2-1 score.
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Team News
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Last weekend versus Columbus, Seattle were missing goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who was in concussion protocol, Cody Baker was sidelined with a hand injury, Joao Paulo has not recovered from his calf issue and Braudilio Rodrigues sat out last week due to a hamstring strain.
Obed Vargas and Nouhou Tolo are expected to return to the lineup after being on international duty last weekend with Mexico and Cameroon, respectively.
Albert Rusnak netted his first career MLS hat trick in their victory over Columbus, and Jordan Morris scored his team-leading 11th of the competition, one short of his single-season best in MLS from 2016.
Kansas City did not have Nemanja Radoja available for selection last week because of a groin strain, Memo Rodriguez is questionable with a knock, and Jake Davis will be sidelined after incurring a pair of cautions versus the Red Bulls,
Willy Agada is eligible to return from suspension, Felipe Hernandez saw his contract terminated by the club for alleged illegal betting and Stephen Afrifa should be back from international duty with Canada.
Alan Pulido had the opening goal for them against New York, his fifth of the MLS campaign, drawing even with Erik Thommy for second on the team.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Thomas; A. Roldan, Gomez Andrade, Ragen, Tolo; C. Roldan, Atencio; De la Vega, Rusnak, Chu; Morris
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Shelton, Rosero, Castellanos, Ndenbe; Walter, Bassong, Thommy; Agada, Pulido, Salloi
We say: Seattle Sounders 1-0 Sporting Kansas City
The Sounders' defensive unit are winning them games at the moment, and we believe they will again this weekend against an SKC side that could be fatigued from the demands of the US Open Cup and this competition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
