The Seattle Sounders return to action on Sunday against the LA Galaxy for the teams' third and final match of the MLS regular season. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the game.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is Sunday at 1:00 p.m. PT at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be telecast on ESPN. Full list of Sounders FC Pub Partners here.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on 107.7 The End with a pregame show beginning at 12:30 p.m. PT, and also on El Rey 1360AM in Spanish.
RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders (10-13-5, 35 pts., 7th in Western Conference), Galaxy (11-4-15), 48 pts., 2nd in Western Conference).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The LA Galaxy continue to be a thorn in the side of Seattle Sounders. The Sounders' 4-9-7 overall record against LA is the club’s worst against any team in MLS.
WE MEET AGAIN: Sunday marks the fourth time these sides will meet this season across all competitions. In the last outing, the Sounders battled out a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field with midfielder Cristian Roldan opening the scoring in the 49th minute. The Galaxy’s Sebastian Lleget equalized in the 79th minute. The Galaxy beat the Sounders 1-0 at CenturyLink Field on July 9.
DEMPSEY STATUS: SoundersGM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey used the phrase “cautiously optimistic” about all-star forward Clint Dempsey’s availability for last Saturday’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Dempsey did not make an appearance in that match and the club revealed earlier this week he was not currently training with the club. The club will continue to monitor his health leading up to Sunday. “When Clint feels better and the doctors consider it safe, then we will consider his return to play," Lagerwey said.
ROOKIE RECORD: MLS has a new record holder and his name is Jordan Morris. Morris’s late game-winner against the Whitecaps on Saturday makes him the all-time leader for game-winners scored by a rookie (5). The goal was the 10th of the season for Morris, now the fifth rookie to reach double digits in his first season in MLS.
INJURY UPDATE: In addition to Dempsey’s notable absence is captain Brad Evans, who has missed the Sounder’s last two matches (lower back). Interim head coach Brian Schmetzer called Evans a “game-time decision” for the Galaxy game on Sunday.
THE EAGLE HAS LANDON: Believe it or not, Landon Donovan is back in MLS. After two years in retirement, the 34-year-old returned to the LA Galaxy on Sept. 8 on a short-term contract until the end of the 2016 season. Donovan came off the bench in the 74th minute of the Galaxy’s match at Sporting Kansas City over the weekend equalized for the team after just two minutes on the field. Sounders fans can expect Donovan to be available for Sunday’s match.
NOTES FROM LA: Amidst the Donova-nsanity are some other key tid-bits from the LA camp. Forward Gio Dos Santos is expected to return to the Galaxy lineup on Sunday, while forward Robbie Keane played a full 90 minutes last weekend after recovering from injury.
