The Seattle Sounders will take on 2017 Major League Soccer expansion franchise Minnesota United on Saturday, Aug. 5. Here is everything you need to know about the match:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5 p.m. PT at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on Q13 FOX and in Spanish on Univision.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2017 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 8-7-7 (31 points, 5th West), Minnesota: 6-12-4 (22 points (10th West).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: This is the first MLS meeting although the two teams used to compete in USL.
NEW FACE: The Sounders signed 28-year-old Spanish midfielder Victor Rodriguez on Wednesday, Seattle’s second signing of the MLS Summer Transfer Window. Rodriguez’s eligibility for Saturday’s match is still to be determined.
UNBEATEN RUN: The Sounders are in their best form of the season having gone unbeaten in their last six matches (3-0-3). Seattle is fifth place in the Western Conference and just five points out of first.
MLS ALL-STAR: Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei played 45 minutes for the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday in Chicago in their match against Real Madrid. Frei made his first All-Star appearance and was in goal for the penalty kick shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation. Madrid prevailed 4-2 on PKs.
VAR: Seattle’s match against Minnesota will be the first time Video Assistant Referee (VAR), also known as Video Review, will be implemented in a post-All-Star Game league-wide initiative. You can learn more about VAR here.
RAMIREZ OUT: Minnesota’s star forward Christian Ramirez left the team’s 4-0 win over D.C. United last week with a tweaked hamstring and is out for Saturday’s match. He leads Minnesota with 11 goals.
MAJOR HOMESTAND: Minnesota will play its fifth straight home game on Saturday. It has gone 1-2-1 so far.
FAMILIAR ROOTS: Minnesota United assistant coach Mark Watson played for the Sounders during their USL days, joining Seattle in 1997.
