The Seattle Sounders host Toronto FC on Saturday at CenturyLink Field for their first and only meeting of the 2019 regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS)
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 4-0-1 (13 points, 2nd West), TFC: 3-0-1 (10 points, 3rd East)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WDWWW, Toronto: DWWW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 8-3-2 all-time against Toronto in MLS regular season, including a 4-2-1 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle traveled to BMO Field on May 9, 2018, during a difficult stretch of games for the Rave Green. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer sent out a heavily rotated squad in a new 5-4-1 formation. Will Bruin opened the scoring in the 25th minute off a counterattack before Jonathon Osorio leveled on the brink of halftime. Homegrown winger Handwalla Bwana picked up three massive points in the 54th minute, coolly slotting his first MLS goal past Alex Bono.
ADDITIONAL REST: Sounders FC’s midweek match against the Colorado Rapids was postponed until Sept. 7 due to inclement weather.
LOSSLESS IN SEATTLE: The Sounders and Toronto FC are two of just four MLS sides to remain unbeaten entering Week 7 of the regular season.
RIDICULOUS DEBUT: The Sounders will need to mitigate the danger presented by TFC’s newest acquisition, midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo. Through two matches, the Spanish playmaker has two goals and two assists, including an absurd lobbed effort in his debut.
CLUB HISTORY: On Tuesday, 15-year-old Sounders Academy alum Danny Leyva inked a Homegrown contract with the First Team, making him the youngest MLS signing in club history.
ALTIDORE’S BACK: US. national team forward Jozy Altidore has been on fire for TFC, tallying three goals and two assists in three appearances since his return from injury.
USMNT MATCHUP: Cristian Roldan will go head-to-head for control of the midfield with U.S. teammate Marky Delgado. Saturday could be an important data point for Head Coach Gregg Berhalter as he selects his squad for the 2019 Gold Cup.
HIT ’EM IN TRANSITION: Three of the last four goals conceded by TFC have come from opponents pouncing on turnovers and exploiting their unbalanced shape with counterattacks. Seattle’s wide players have been lethal in transition this season, with Jordan Morris, Kelvin Leerdam, Brad Smith and Víctor Rodríguez combining for six goals and four assists
