The Seattle Sounders are hosting Minnesota United on Sunday. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ESPN and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 0-3-1 (1 point, 12th West), Minnesota: 2-4-0 (6 points, 8th West).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 2-0-0 all time against Minnesota United, including a 1-0-0 mark at home.
RECENT MEETINGS: The Sounders defeated the Loons 4-0 in their first-ever meeting last August in Minnesota before defeating them 2-1 two weeks later in Seattle.
RETURN OF THE HONEY BADGER: Sounders captain Osvaldo Alonso made his first appearance of 2018 in Seattle’s 2-2 draw at Sporting Kansas City last weekend. After recovering from a nagging quad injury that sidelined him for the end of last season, Alonso came on as a second-half substitute and helped Seattle grind out its first point of the year.
ON THE SCORESHEET: The Sounders recorded their first goals of the 2018 MLS season last weekend after getting shut out in their first three matches. Will Bruin notched the first of the year before Cristian Roldan added one of his own.
ALEX ROLDAN STEPS UP: Alex Roldan made his first career MLS start last weekend in Kansas City and impressed. He was strong in possession, solid defensively and earned a secondary assist on brother Cristian’s second-half goal.
Clint Dempsey celebrates his game-winning goal against Minnesota at CenturyLink Field last August | Mike Fiechtner
DEMPSEY, LEERDAM RETURN: After each sitting out against SKC due to red-card suspensions, the Sounders are set to have forward Clint Dempsey and defender Kelvin Leerdam return to the starting lineup this weekend.
DEMPSEY DOMINANCE: Dempsey’s return is good news for the Sounders, as he recorded three of Seattle’s six goals against Minnesota in two games last year, including a game-winning stoppage-time penalty kick at CenturyLink Field.
DARWINISM: Minnesota recently signed Colombian international Darwin Quintero as its first Designated Player, and he scored in his debut last week at the Portland Timbers. The 30-year-old spent the last 10 years in Liga MX enjoying massive success with Santos Laguna and Club América.
ROAD WOES: Minnesota United finished 2017 with 12 road losses, tied for second most in MLS.
RAMIREZ IN A RUT: Minnesota’s leading goalscorer last year Christian Ramirez has yet to find the back of the net in six games in 2018. The fringe United States national team player tallied 14 times in 2017.
MEETING MEARS AGAIN: The Sounders will take on former defender and 2016 MLS Cup winner Tyrone Mears, who now plies his trade for the Loons. The Sounders faced the 35-year-old English defender last year when he played one season with Atlanta United.
ACL INJURIES: The Sounders and the Loons each have a key player out for the season with a torn ACL. Seattle lost forward Jordan Morris during a CONCACAF Champions League match in El Salvador in February, while Minnesota lost Trinidad and Tobago international Kevin Molino two matches into the regular season.
