The Seattle Sounders travel to Ohio to take on Eastern Conference contenders FC Cincinnati on Saturday in their first road match of the 2023 MLS season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT at TQL Stadium.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch for free on the Apple TV app. Watch every match, all season long by subscribing to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. No restrictions and no blackouts.
HOW TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2023 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 2-0-0 (6 Â points, 1st West), FC Cincinnati (1-0-1, 4 points, 5th in East)
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle drew FC Cincinnati 1-1 at Lumen Field on September, 27, 2022. Brenner scored the opener for the visitors in the 15th minute after off an assist from Acosta, before the Sounders leveled via a 58th-minute laser strike from Fredy Montero that the Seattle club legend converted to the near post.
FIRST ROAD MATCH: After bagging victories in each of their first two matches at Lumen Field, Saturday’s match marks Seattle’s first away trip of 2023. With the Rave Green firing on all cylinders, playing away in a hostile road environment at TQL Stadium against a top team in FC Cincinnati will provide a stern test for this ambitious Sounders side
TOP OF THE TABLE: It’s only two games into the season, but the Sounders are currently leading atop the league table through two weeks, with their +6 goal differential acting as the tiebreaker with St. Louis CITY SC, the New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF. It has been a fitting start for a club singularly focused on bouncing back after missing the postseason in 2022.
HE’S BACK: Star forward Raúl RuidÃaz made his return to the field in Matchday 2 after nursing a minor hamstring injury during preseason and could see a larger workload Saturday. Seattle's No. 9 nearly marked his return with a goal within minutes of coming on, hitting a clever shot that rattled off the post. Brazilian offseason arrival Héber scored in each of Seattle’s first two matches starting in RuidÃaz’s place.
MORRIS ON FIRE: Sounders forward Jordan Morris enters the match in great form, having already scored three goals on the season, including a brace in the home opener and the game-winning goal in Seattle's 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake last week.
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LITMUS TEST FOR DEPTH: Winning on the road in MLS is no easy task. Against an FC Cincinnati side with the likes of Brenner, Branden Vasquez and Lucho Acosta in the attack, as well as Matt Miazga and Obinna Nwobodo in defense, it will be a good opportunity for rising talents like Jackson Ragen, Léo Chú and Josh Atencio to test themselves.Â
UPSTART OPPONENT: FC Cincinnati are coming off their first-ever playoff appearance in MLS in 2022 and were a popular pick in preseason to be a Supporters’ Shield contender.
