The Seattle Sounders are hosting the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night in their first meeting of the season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6 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: 7-0-5 (26 points, 1st West), Houston: 3-3-6 (15 points, 7th West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: Due to COVID-19, the Sounders and Dynamo did not meet in 2020. Their last matchup was a 1-0 Sounders win on July 27, 2019, on the road at BBVA Compass Stadium behind a 59th-minute goal from Jordan Morris. The Sounders also won their home match 1-0 against the Dynamo on May 11 behind a fifth-minute goal from Cristian Roldan.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Sounders: DDWWD, Dynamo: DDDDL
FIRST FULL CAPACITY MATCH: Lumen Field will be fully open for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last March. There will also no longer be a requirement to show proof of vaccination to enter
BEAR DOWN: Sounders forward Will Bruin will be sidelined at least a month after suffering a torn meniscus during Seattle’s 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on June 26. Bruin, while yet to score this season, has been influential in Seattle’s 3-5-2 formation alongside Raúl Ruidíaz, posting two assists in eight starts.
CRISTIAN IN CAMP: The Sounders will be without vital midfield cog Cristian Roldan, who joins the United States national team for the Concacaf Gold Cup that kicks off on July 10. Roldan has been instrumental in Seattle’s success this season and is one of the most active midfielders in MLS.
UNBEATEN RECORD: Seattle extended its unbeaten streak to start the season to 12 matches, which ties the MLS record. The Sounders are only the fifth team in MLS history do that, joining the LA Galaxy (1996, 2010), Sporting Kansas City (2000) and Real Salt Lake (2014).
OPENING A TAB: The Sounders will get their first look at the Dynamo under Head Coach Tab Ramos, the former United States international midfielder and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, who took the reins in Houston at the end of the 2019 season.
URRUTI RISING: Maxi Urruti has been in fine form to start the season, scoring six times and adding two assists in 12 matches. He’ll be the main threat up front for Houston, which will likely be without forward Tyler Pasher, who was called into Canada for the Gold Cup.
ROAD WOES: The Dynamo have yet to win on the road so far this season, posting a 0-3-3 mark in six matches away from Houston.
