The Seattle Sounders are visiting Austin FC on Sunday in their first meeting of the 2022 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1:55 p.m. PT at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1 and FOX Deportes.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2022 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 1-2-1 (3 points, 11th West), Austin: 2-1-0 (6 points, 3rd West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders made MLS history by starting five teenagers in a historic 1-0 win at Q2 Stadium last July. Raúl Ruidíaz bagged the match-winner in style, scoring from 40 yards out on a half-volley in what became an MLS Goal of the Year finalist.
FINDING FORM: The Sounders head into this weekend unbeaten in their last three matches, including two wins over Liga MX’s Club León in Concacaf Champions League and the LA Galaxy in league play. Seattle heads straight to Texas after a strong 1-1 road draw at León on Thursday that sent the Rave Green to the CCL semifinal for the second time in club history.
RUIDÍAZ AVAILABLE?: The Sounders’ Peruvian talisman has yet to appear in MLS play this year while recovering from a hamstring injury, but he traveled with the team to Mexico and Texas. He could potentially be available off the bench on Sunday, and as mentioned above, Austin knows what he’s capable of producing.
VARGAS RETURNS TO AUSTIN: Midfielder Obed Vargas has been an influential part of the Sounders’ midfield so far this year, and the teenager returns to the venue where he made his First Team debut in 2021. Called up from Tacoma Defiance because of an Extreme Hardship rule, Vargas was one of the five teenagers Head Coach Brian Schmetzer employed last year in that memorable win. He was just 15 at the time and became the third-youngest player in MLS history to appear in a match behind only Freddy Adu and Alphonso Davies.
ROCK-SOLID RAGEN: With Yeimar sidelined with a high ankle sprain, 23-year-old rookie Jackson Ragen made just his second career First Team start in a precarious position on Thursday, trying to protect a lead against a desperate León side in Mexico. The Sounders Academy product passed the test with flying colors. He locked down defensively and held León to just a consolation goal at the end to help Seattle advance on a comfortable 4-1 aggregate score line. There’s a decent chance he gets another run out on Sunday as well.
HIGH-FLYING OFFENSE: Despite being shut out in Portland last weekend, Austin still leads MLS in goals scored with 10 after back-to-back five-goal performances to open the season. Ten goals in two matches to start a season was an MLS record, and its 10 goals through three matches is third in MLS all time.
HOME SWEET HOME: Austin has won six of its last seven home matches including four in a row, which is tied with Columbus Crew SC for the longest active home winning streak in the league.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Austin forward Sebastián Driussi recorded five goals and five assists in 17 matches last season after joining over the summer. The former Zenit Saint Petersburg and River Plate attacker already has three goals and two assists in just three games to open his first full season with El Verde.
