The Seattle Sounders are hosting Nashville SC on Sunday (5 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, iHeart Radio, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) in their 2022 MLS season opener. Here are three matchups to watch:
Raúl RuidÃaz vs. Walker Zimmerman
These two are no strangers to one another. RuidÃaz famously bagged a brace against Zimmerman’s LAFC juggernaut in the 2019 Western Conference Championship en route to the Sounders’ second MLS Cup title. RuidÃaz is one of the league’s elite forwards and enters off back-to-back MLS Best XI selections after scoring 17 goals in just 2,100 minutes. Zimmerman was traded to Nashville ahead of its inaugural MLS season in 2020 and all he’s gone on to do is earn back-to-back MLS Defender of the Year awards, including helping Nashville finish tied with the Sounders and the New York Red Bulls for the fewest goals allowed last season (33).
Albert Rusnák vs. AnÃbal Godoy
A pair of MLS veterans coming off fantastic seasons will go head-to-head in the right/central part of midfield. Rusnák was the crown jewel signing of the MLS offseason after scoring 11 goals and adding 11 assists with Real Salt Lake last year. The 27-year-old is squarely in his prime and figures to have a massive season especially given all the talent and weapons around him (He also earned his first assist in Rave Green on Thursday when he set up Léo Chú’s goal against F.C. Motagua). Godoy, meanwhile, had arguably his best MLS season to date last year, dominating in midfield for a team that was incredibly difficult to break down. The 32-year-old Panamanian international mainstay operates alongside veteran Dax McCarty as the heart of Head Coach Gary Smith’s 3-4-1-2 formation and will need to have a massive game defensively on Sunday if Nashville hopes to slow down this Seattle attack.
Yeimar vs. Hany Mukhtar
The Sounders will have their hands full defensively trying to slow down Mukhtar, who operates as a second forward underneath either Aké Loba or CJ Sapong. Mukhtar, who was an MLS MVP finalist last season after recording 16 goals and 12 assists, loves to operate in space. He is more than capable of taking defenders on 1-v-1 and has range from seemingly anywhere past midfield. It’ll be a team effort to keep him out of dangerous positions, and much of that responsibility will fall to Yeimar, the hulking Colombian who finished second in the MLS Defender of the Year award voting last year behind Zimmerman. Yeimar and the rest of the Sounders’ defense enter in good form, having earned two straight clean sheets in Concacaf Champions League to start the year.
