If history is an indicator for predicted outcomes, then there is little surprise in the narrow 1-0 result between Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. In the 11 regular season matchups between the two sides, six fixtures ended in a 1-0 result, and all 11 matches have been decided by one goal or ended in a draw.
However, if history is an indicator for predicted outcomes, then it is a surprise the 1-0 result was in favor of Sporting KC. For the first time since 2012, Sporting KC scored a goal against Sounders FC, and it was its first win against the Rave Green in MLS play since 2009. The result snapped Seattle’s nine-game unbeaten streak against Sporting KC in regular season action, and it was the club’s first loss at Sporting Park in league play.
SEASONAL SIZZLES
Sounders FC (8-4-2, 26 points) remains atop the Western Conference table, currently tied for first with Vancouver Whitecaps FC with two games in-hand. In addition to leading the league with 1.86 points per match, the Rave Green have allowed the fewest goals (11) and have scored tied for the third-most goals (20), which results in the top goal differential (plus-nine) in MLS.
Despite not appearing in last week’s match, Seattle’s dynamic duo up top remain among the league’s most productive outputs. Clint Dempsey is tied for third in MLS in with seven goals and six assists, and is tied for first with three game-winning goals and three game-winning assists. Obafemi Martins checks in with six goals, while midfielder Marco Pappa has five assists. With three goals in a little over 300 minutes, Chad Barrett leads all qualifying players with an average of 0.88 goals per 90 minutes.
LAST WEEK’S LISTINGS
For just the seventh time in club history, the Sounders played a league match without both Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso. Alonso, who was serving a one-game suspension, is Seattle’s all-time leader in minutes, games started and games played, while Evans, who was away with the United States Men’s National Team, ranks second in each category. In the previous six matches under this circumstance, Seattle went 3-3-0, with the most recent occurrence in June 2013.
In addition to Alonso and Evans, three other key components to the team’s success—Martins, Dempsey, and Barrett—were unavailable to play. This allowed for more playing time for younger players, including the 80th minute-MLS debut of recently signed midfielder, Thomà s. The 22-year-old Brazilian became the 22nd player to appear in a match for the Sounders this season.
MATCHUP MASHUP
Next up, Sounders FC faces FC Dallas, who currently ranks tied for fourth in the Western Conference (6-4-4, 22 points). FC Dallas played Seattle to its first scoreless stalemate of the 2015 campaign on March 28 in Frisco, Texas. The Hoops haven’t won in the past month, going 0-2-2 in that stretch.
Sounders FC is 8-3-5 all-time against FC Dallas in regular-season action, including a 5-1-1 mark at CenturyLink Field. FC Dallas midfielder Michel is the club’s all-time series leader in goals (four), assists (three) and shots on goal (six). One of Stefan Frei’s seven shutouts, which is tied for first in MLS, came against FC Dallas in March. Frei also leads all MLS goalkeepers in wins (eight), win percentage (57 percent), saves (55) and save percentage (83 percent).
THROWBACK
In late 2014, after claiming its fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in September and its first-ever Supporters’ Shield crown in October, Seattle began its pursuit of the elusive MLS Cup. The first barrier: FC Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinals.
FC Dallas, which finished fourth in the Western Conference during the 2014 regular season, advanced over fifth-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Knockout Round to face Seattle. In the First Leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, FC Dallas and Sounders FC split on a 1-1 draw at Toyota Stadium. Dallas struck first in the 34th minute on a converted penalty kick by Michel, but Seattle responded with the crucial away goal in the 54th minute on an Osvaldo Alonso header.
For the return leg, Sounders FC implemented a defensively-oriented agenda, a rare move for Sigi Schmid’s club. It paid off, as the scoreless stalemate pushed the Rave Green to the next round via the away-goal tiebreaker.
KEY(S) TO THE GAME
Get back in the flow. Last week, Head Coach Sigi Schmid implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation due to the personnel mix-up. As key contributors return to the pitch, it will be crucial for the squad to find its offensive form, presumably in its standard 4-4-2. Despite still ranking near the top in most offensive categories, Seattle’s goal-scoring production has stalled a bit the past month—the Sounders have scored just five goals in five matches. As the midseason point quickly approaches, the Sounders need to position themselves for that magical autumn run.
