The Seattle Sounders are visiting Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in their second of three meetings during this regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4 p.m. PT at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 13-5-6 (45 points, 2nd West), Sporting KC: 13-5-7 (46 points, 1st West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: Sporting Kansas City went to Seattle on July 25 and came away 3-1 winners behind goals from Johnny Russell, Daniel Sallói and Cameron Duke. Fredy Montero scored for a shorthanded Sounders side.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Sounders: LWLWW, SKC: WWLDD
RALLY AND REBOUND: The Sounders are coming off a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Liga MX’s Club León in the Leagues Cup Final on Wednesday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said the team has no choice but to “get back on the horse.”
SIX-POINT MADNESS: Four of the Sounders’ final 10 matches of the MLS regular season are against Sporting KC and the Colorado Rapids, the two teams jockeying with Seattle for Western Conference supremacy. How well the Sounders manage this quartet of games is likely going to determine how the final standings finish.
ON THE ROAD: Seattle visits Kansas City for its third of four straight road matches to close out September and its fourth in 12 days. As a result of the Leagues Cup Semifinals and Finals, the Sounders will finish September having played six games in 19 days. Fortunately, the Sounders boast the league’s best away clip at 7-2-2.
KANSAS CITY COOKING: Sporting is 4-0-2 in their last six matches against Seattle in Kansas City and have won three straight matches overall. The Sounders haven’t taken three points at Children’s Mercy Park since 2013.
DAMN, DANIEL: Sallói is having an MLS Best XI-caliber season, posting 13 goals and adding six assists. The 25-year-old Hungarian international and 2021 MLS All-Star scored in Seattle two months ago and is tied for fourth in MLS in total goal contributions.
DEFENSIVE LOCKDOWN: Two years after allowing an eye-popping 67 goals, SKC has conceded just 26 through 25 matches in 2021, which is fourth-best in the league. One of the reasons behind the improvement has been the revelation of Andreu Fontàs, the 31-year-old Spanish center back who has solidified himself as one of MLS’ best defenders.
