The Seattle Sounders are hosting MLS newcomers Austin FC on Sunday in their first-ever meeting. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH
: The match will be televised on FS1.
WHERE TO LISTEN
: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS
: Seattle: 5-0-2 (17 points, 1st West), Austin: 2-4-0 (6 points, 11th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first)
: Sounders: DWWWW, Austin: LLLWW
LEAGUE LEADERS
: The Sounders enter Week 7 atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 17 points, three points clear of the New England Revolution. The Sounders set a club record for their best start to an MLS season with their 1-1 draw against Atlanta United last weekend.
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE: Seattle is also only one of three unbeaten teams remaining in MLS this season, joined by Orlando City (12 points) and Nashville SC (10 points).
NO NICO NO PARTY: Head Coach Brian Schmetzer announced last week that he was going to shut down captain Nicolás Lodeiro until the Sounders return from the three-week international break in mid-June. Ideally, Sunday’s match against Austin FC should be the last match Lodeiro misses while suffering from knee inflammation.
JP PG: Brazilian center midfielder João Paulo has been acting as point guard in Lodeiro’s absence, racking up four assists so far, tied for the most in MLS.
RUIDÍAZ ROLLING: Forward Raúl Ruidíaz scored his sixth goal in seven matches last weekend, and the 2020 MLS Best XI selection is showing no signs of slowing down. He’s one off the league-lead and should be hungry to bag some more on Sunday in his final match before the international break.
NEW BOYS ON THE BLOCK: Austin FC is the latest expansion team to join MLS, and Los Verdes are managed by former United States national team forward Josh Wolff in his first head coaching position.
TOUGH SKID: After going 2-1-0 in its first three matches, Austin has dropped its last three matches. The Texas club starts its inaugural campaign on the road for the first eight matches while its new stadium is completed.
THE SQUAD: Austin added some veteran MLS pieces to its initial roster, including defenders Matt Besler and Nick Lima, midfielders Alex Ring and Diego Fagundez and forward Danny Hoesen. Austin also made a splash in the international market by bringing in Designated Players Tomás Pochettino and Cecilio Domínguez.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Domínguez has two goals in six games and will be the main target for Austin this weekend. The 26-year-old Paraguayan has plenty of experience in Mexico’s Liga MX and Argentina’s Primera División and will be a major priority for the Sounders’ center back trio.
