The Seattle Sounders are hosting FC Dallas on Wednesday in their first of two meetings in two weeks. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 9-3-5 (32 points, 1st West), Dallas: 4-7-5 (17 points, 10th West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders defeated FC Dallas in the postseason for the second consecutive season, knocking out Luchi Gonzalez’s side 1-0 in Seattle in the Western Conference Semifinals behind a second-half goal from center back Shane O’Neill.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LLWLW, Dallas: WWLLL
BACK TO BASICS: The Sounders enter Wednesday having lost three of four matches after going 13 matches unbeaten to start the season, an MLS record. They preached a return to the fundamentals of being hard to beat, so expect a bounce-back performance from Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s men.
CRISTIAN COMES HOME: Midfielder Cristian Roldan returns to Seattle fresh off winning the Concacaf Gold Cup with the United States on Sunday in a 1-0 victory of Mexico. Roldan came on in the 66th minute and played nearly an hour as the match went into extra time, so it’s unclear if he’ll be fit enough to start on Wednesday, but the Sounders could use at least a second-half cameo from Roldan after going 2-3-0 in the five matches he missed while on international duty.
BRUIN’S BACK: A bright spot from the Sounders’ home loss to the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend was the return of forward Will Bruin, who had missed the previous five games while recovering from knee surgery. He’ll add a strong presence and incredible work rate off the bench while he gets back to full fitness and can change the match playing in the place of, or alongside, Raúl RuidÃaz and Fredy Montero.
FULL OF PEPI: FC Dallas had been in the Western Conference basement until they posted back-to-wins the past two weeks, and a big part of this recent success has been the sensational play of 18-year-old forward Ricardo Pepi. The United States youth international is tied for fifth in goals this season with eight, despite having played just 863 minutes. He began the season behind Designated Player veteran Franco Jara, but he has delivered and all but won the starting job. FCD are 4-2-2 this season when Pepi starts at center forward and 0-5-2 when he doesn’t.
ROAD GHOSTS: Prior to a remarkable win at Sporting Kansas City last weekend, FC Dallas was one of only six MLS teams to not have a road win and the only team that hadn’t recorded a single point away from home. FC Dallas still enters Lumen Field at 1-7-0 away from Frisco, Texas, but their recent statement victory at SKC will have them brimming with confidence.
THE POMYKAL SON RETURNS: FC Dallas’ Homegrown midfielder Paxton Pomykal scored his first goal of the season in the win over SKC last weekend, a due reward for the 21-year-old who is finally returning to form after battling several injuries the last few seasons. The budding U.S. national team member has played in all 16 of Dallas’ matches this year, a promising sign as FCD looks to right the ship.
