The Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in the second and final meeting between the two sides during the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
MATCHDAY GUIDE
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1 and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 11-6-5 (38 points, 2nd West), SKC: 6-9-7 (25 points, 10th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WLWWL, Kansas City: LLWWL
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 9-6-4 all-time against Sporting, including a 5-2-2 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Rave Green fell 3-2 to SKC at Children’s Mercy Park on May 26. A first-half brace from Johnny Russell saw the hosts enter halftime up 2-0. Kelvin Leerdam set up a goal for RaĂºl RuidĂaz in the 63rd minute, spinning between two defenders and laying the ball off for the Peruvian to hammer home. The comeback was short-lived, though, as Russell completed his hat-trick just five minutes later. Leerdam handed Seattle a lifeline in the 71st, heading NicolĂ¡s Lodeiro’s corner kick past SKC goalkeeper Tim Melia, but the hosts hung on for the win.
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris’ ridiculous game-winner against the Houston Dynamo is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week for Week 21. You can vote for Morris here.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Lodeiro is in Orlando, Fla., this week for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, where he’ll take on Spanish giants Atlético Madrid.
CLUB AND COUNTRY: The past couple of months have been spectacular for young Homegrown duo Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Danny Leyva. In addition to being called-up to the U.S. U-17 men’s national team, Ocampo-Chavez scored his first two professional goals in a 4-1 win for the Tacoma Defiance on Wednesday, while Leyva earned his third MLS start in Seattle’s win at Houston.
SWEET, SWEET MEMORIES: There have been plenty of heated fixtures between Seattle and KC over the years, but none match the intensity or gravity of Seattle’s 1-0 win over Sporting in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, when Nelson Valdez scored a late goal to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
COMMUNITY MVP: Don’t forget to vote Christine O’Connell for Community MVP. O’Connell raised over $48,000 for cancer research by selling Sounders-themed scarves.
CHOO CHOO: Seattle Sounders left back Nouhou was named to the Week 21 MLS Team of the Week for his stellar performance against the Dynamo, which included one tackle, three interceptions, six clearances and four recoveries.
