The Seattle Sounders are hosting FC Dallas on Tuesday in the Western Conference Semifinals. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field.
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.
FINAL 2020 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 11-5-6 (1.77 PPG, 2nd West), FC Dallas: 9-6-7 (1.55 PPG, 6th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWDLW, FC Dallas: WLWWW
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Seattle defeated LAFC 3-1 at Lumen Field, while FC Dallas prevailed 8-7 on penalty kicks after drawing 1-1 with the Timbers in Portland.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Due to COVID-19, the Sounders and FC Dallas did not meet during the regular season. The last time they met was in last year’s opening round of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, where a Jordan Morris hat trick led the host Sounders past FCD 4-3 in an extra time thriller.
TRIUMPHANT TRIUMVIRATE: The Sounders are led by 2020 MLS Best XI selections Nicolás Lodeiro, Raúl RuidÃaz and Morris, who had at least one goal and one assist each in the win over LAFC. Lodeiro and RuidÃaz are tied for first in Seattle club history with eight goals apiece in the postseason, while Morris is tied for third with six.
ALEX ASTONISHES: Filling in for veteran right back Kelvin Leerdam, who missed the LAFC match with a hamstring injury, newly converted fullback Alex Roldan stepped in seamlessly, earning praise from Head Coach Brian Schmetzer in the process. Leerdam was back in training this week ahead of the Dallas match, but if he’s not fully fit, Schmetzer can feel confident plugging Roldan back in and getting another positive performance.
SCHMETZER TRAIN ROLLS ON: Schmetzer added to his incredible postseason resume, pushing his playoff record to 13-3-2 in four-plus years and increasing his league-best winning percentage.
LATE DRAMA: Seventeen-year-old United States youth international Ricardo Pepi scored a stoppage-time equalizer to send FC Dallas to extra time in Round One against the Timbers. FCD then made eight consecutive penalty kicks before goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer denied a Portland attempt to send Dallas back to the Pacific Northwest in the conference semifinals.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: The Sounders and Dallas sport the best two defenses in the Western Conference this year, conceding just 23 and 24 goals, respectively. FC Dallas are led by longtime center back Matt Hedges, as well as left back Ryan Hollingshead, who made a solid case for MLS Best XI this season.
NEW FACES: This isn’t necessarily the same youthful squad that Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez brought to Seattle in 2019. Dallas is buoyed by new additions Franco Jara and Andrés Ricaurte, who have impressed in their first seasons in MLS.
