SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. The Kansas City Wiz…Wizards…Sporting…whatever, visit The Evergreen for a Sunday matineé against our Boys in Green.

What: MLS league fixture, Seattle Sounders FC v. Sporting Kansas City.

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 4:15 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Sunday 15 September 2024 CE.

At Stake: MLS Cup seeding. Seriously. That’s it. You could add in pride, a bit of comeuppance for our 2:1 defeat at State Avenue in June.

Where to Watch: Apple TV and Fox Sports 1. As it’s a home match, alternate audio commentary from KJR is available in the control layer if you’re watching on Apple TV. So if Max Bretos and former Dallas Burn defender Brian Dunseth aren’t your cup of tea, you can do something about it.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

It would be a lovely thing to see the lads square things with these, after the defeat in June. Also, as we get closer to the season’s end, each match is a preparation for MLS Cup. If you’re a supporter and you have the time and the means, do get yourselves to the ground and round up your mates whilst you’re at it. If that’s not possible, you know the drill. Houses flats pints cats pubs dwellings stories tellings pie chips boat ships. Be present. Be loud. Look after one another.

It’s Sounders football at Royal Brougham Park on a Sunday afternoon. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

I mean, do I even have to say it?  Kansas City are currently in 23rd place in the MLS league table.

Our last victory against Kansas City was a 4:1 thumping on 25 March 2023 at State Avenue.

The Good News

Sounders FC have done a whole lot more winning than losing of late. After the training match last Sat, Sunday’s fixture could be just the tonic we need to work ourselves into Cup mode.

The squad are healthy nearly to a man, with Frei cleared to play, though Joao Paulo is still out with his calf issue. Leo Chu is fighting through a knee issue and is a matchday decision. So plenty of talent for the Gaffer to choose from.

Sounders have a 11-5-4 record at home in all competitions, whereas Kansas City’s away form is brutal as evidenced by their 3-3-10 mark.

Although Kansas City score marginally more goals than we do (1.66 goals/match : 1.54 goals/match), Sounders FC are tied for fourth best defence in the league. Defence has been an issue for Kansas City this season, as they are conceding the better part of two goals per match (1.77 goals conceded/match).

The Bad News

In their last eight league matches, Kansas City have only lost twice (4-2-2).

Should they all play, Salloi (2 goals, 3 assists), Pulido (5 goals, 5 assists), and Russell (4 goals, 5 assists) can be a handful, and with William Agada leading the line (9 goals, 2 assists), our defence has its work cut out.

Sounders FC have been shut out 10 times in all competitions. I know we hit four goals in Columbus last Sat, but I doubt Tim Melia will be as generous between the sticks as the Crew’s emergency goalkeeper Sean Zawadski, who had been playing at right-centre-half before he was required to deputise for the sent-off Abraham Romero. It is also possible that Melia will rugby-tackle one of our players as he did to Cristian, some time ago. Without penalty.

I believe the last three matches of the season should be used as preparation for MLS Cup, and also to try to salvage our run at the Cascadia Cup. With that said, I think the Kansas City, San Jose, and Houston matches should be used to rest our weary first-team and see which of our youngers are ready to play a larger role at the club, and which need to go out on loan to get some first-team football under their belts. This is not going to happen though; the Gaffer will attempt to clench and white-knuckle every point in the standings with a vise-grip. I think, especially in light of the club’s reluctance to purchase top young players, development needs to be the focus, as there is only MLS Cup and Cascadia to play for. Let’s hope this opportunity is not squandered.

The Side I Would Select

The squad is well-rested. However, we have a midweek fixture against San Jose three days after the Kansas City match, which is a two-day turn.

Rationale: Frei has been cleared to play, but a bit of extra rest for that knock on the head would do him good. Pedro needs matches, badly. I like the idea of Georgi at right-forward; let's see how he does and if it’s not working out, Rothrock can spell him after half-time.

GK     Thomas

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     De La Vega

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Minoungou

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

This seems like a safe bet.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB      Alex

LDM    Atencio

RDM    Vargas

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Cristian

CF     Morris

Intangibles

The Referee for Sunday afternoon’s match will be Drew Fischer.

Sounders FC record in matches refereed by Fischer: 8-10-2

Kansas City record in matches refereed by Fischer: 8-2-7

General notes on personnel

Kansas City transfers IN:

Bassong (FCV Varul) free

Vargas (Desamparados) undisclosed fee

Rodriguez (Austin FC) free

Schewe - draft

Fernandez (Trabzonspor) free

Kansas City transfers OUT:
Espinoza (Des Moines Menace) free

Ford (Sporting Kansas City Reserves)

Gutierrez (U. Concepcion) free

Zusi - released

Duke (Charlotte FC Reserves)

Kinda (Maccabi Haifa) free

McIntosh (San Antonio FC) free

Cisneros (Carolina Core FC) loan

Tzionis (FK Cukaricki) undisclosed fee

Pierre (Genk) €1M

Comparison against common opponents

HOU 2:2 SEA

HOU 1:1 SKC

SKC 1:2 HOU

(against HOU: SEA 0-1-0 0, SKC 0-1-1 -1) edge SEA

PHI 2:3 SEA

SKC 1:1 PHI

(against PHI: SEA 1-0-0 +1, SKC 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

LAFC 2:1 SEA

SEA 0:3 LAFC

SEA 0:3 LAFC LC

SEA 0:1 LAFC USOC

LAFC 0:0 SKC

(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-4 -8, SKC 0-1-0 0) edge SKC

SJ 3:2 SEA

SKC 2:1 SJ

SJ 1:2 SKC

(against SJ: SEA 0-0-1 -1, SKC 2-0-0 +2) edge SKC

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG

SEA 3:1 LAG LC

SKC 2:3 LAG

LAG 4:2 SKC

(against LAG: SEA 1-1-1 +1, SKC 0-0-2 -3) edge SEA

POR 1:2 SEA

POR 1:0 SEA

SKC 3:3 POR

POR 2:1 SKC

(against POR: SEA 1-0-1 0, SKC 0-1-1 -1) edge SEA

STL 1:2 SEA
SEA 2:0 STL

SKC 3:3 STL

(against STL: SEA 2-0-0 +3, SKC 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

SEA 2:0 MIN

SEA 2:0 MIN LC

MIN 2:3 SEA

MIN 2:1 SKC

(against MIN: SEA 3-0-0 +5, SKC 0-0-1 -1) edge SEA

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

RSL 1:0 SKC

SKC 3:4 RSL

(against RSL: SEA 0-1-1 -2, SKC 0-0-2 -2) edge SEA 

SEA 0:0 ATX

ATX 0:1 SEA

ATX 3:2 SKC

SKC 2:0 ATX

(against ATX: SEA 1-1-0 +1, SKC 1-0-1 +1) edge SEA

SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

SKC 1:2 VAN

VAN 2:1 SKC

(against VAN: SEA 0-1-1 -2, SKC 0-0-2 -2) edge SEA

CLB 0:4 SEA* *CLB had ½ their team and an outfield player playing goalkeeper

CLB 4:0 SKC

CLB 4:0 SKC LC

(against CLB: SEA 1-0-0 +4, SKC 0-0-2 -8) data tainted, comparison not possible

SEA 1:1 COL

COL 2:1 SKC

(against COL: SEA 0-1-0 0, SKC 0-0-1 -1) edge SEA

DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

SKC 3:2 DAL

SKC 2:1 DAL USOC

(against DAL: SEA 1-1-0 +1, 2-0-0 +2) edge SKC

SEA 2:1 CHI

SKC 2:1 CHI LC

(against CHI: SEA 1-0-0 +1, SKC 1-0-0 +1) even

Know Thine Enemy

Kansas City as they lined up in their 1:1 draw against the Red Donkeys at Harrison on 7 September.

GOALKEEPER

Tim Melia, 38

United States

Notable Clubs: Charleston Battery (16/0), Chivas USA (6/0), Sporting Kansas City (257/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €100,000

Notes: Played his university football for Oneonta and Lynn. Won a USL2 league title and USL2 Cup double with Charleston Battery.  Won two US Open Cups with SKC. Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017. Named MLS Comeback Player of the Year 2015. Named Player of the Tournament 2017 US Open Cup. Named to MLS Best XI 2017.

DEFENCE

Tim Leibold, 30

Germany

Notable Clubs: Nurnberg (102/8), Hamburg (78/5), Sporting Kansas City (39/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by VfB Stuttgart, TSF Ditzengen, and SGV Freiberg.

Robert Voloder, 23

Germany

Notable Clubs: Maribor (20/2), Sporting Kansas City (42/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Eintracht Frankfurt, FSV Frankfurt, SG Rosenhohe Offenbach, and FC Koln. Has played at youth levels for Bosnia & Hezegovina (13/0) and Germany (8/0).

Daniel Rosero, 30

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Arsenal di Sarandi (16/0), Patriotas Boyaca (42/5), Deportivo Cali (130/9), Atletico Junior (121/6), Sporting Kansas City (46/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Arsenal di Sarandi.

Khiry Shelton, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: New York City FC (56/6), Sporting Kansas City (134/12), SC Paderborn (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Lonestar SC. Played his university football for Oregon State (52/19).

MIDFIELD

Zorhan Bassong, 25

Canada (2/0)

Notable Clubs: CF Montreal (36/0), Arges Pitesti (8/0), Farul Constanta (2/0), Sporting Kansas City (16/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

Notes: Developed by CS Longueuil, Mouscron, Anderlecht, and Lille. Won a Canadian Championship with CF Montreal, and a Supercupa Romaniei with Farul Constanta.

Erik Thommy, 30

Germany

Notable Clubs: FC Augsburg (10/0), 1.FC Kaiserslautern (6/1), Jahn Regensburg (37/8), VfB Stuttgart (52/3), Fortuna Dusseldorf (34/6), Sporting Kansas City (71/13)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by SV Kleinbeuren, SSV Ulm, TSG Thannhausen, and FC Augsburg.

Jacob Davis, 22

United States

Notable Clubs: Sporting Kansas City (53/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Sporting Kansas City.

FORWARD

Daniel Salloi, 28

Hungary (4/0)

Notable Clubs: Ujpest FC (12/1), Sporting Kansas City (203/47)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Ujpest and Sporting Kansas City. Won a US Open Cup with Sporting Kansas City.

Alan Pulido, 33

Mexico (20/5)

Notable Clubs: Tigres UANL (105/23), Olympiacos (8/5), CD Guadalajara (97/34), Sporting Kansas City (86/33)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Tigres UANL. Won a Mexican Primera Division title and a Copa MX with Tigres UANL. Won a Greek Super League title with Olympiacos. Won a Liga MX, Copa MX, and CONCACAF Champions League with CD Guadalajara. Youth honours for Mexico. Shared the Golden Boot (5 goals) in 2012 CONCACAF U23 Olympic Qualifying Championship. Won the Golden Boot (9 goals) in Copa MX 2014. Named to Liga MX Best XI 2017 and 2019. Named Liga MX MVP 2017. Scored CONCACAF Champions League Goal of the Tournament 2018. Shared Liga MX Golden Boot (12 goals) 2019.

Johnny Russell, 34

Scotland (14/1)

Notable Clubs: Dundee United (102/31), Forfar Athletic (26/8), Raith Rovers (23/4), Derby County (182/30), Sporting Kansas City (191/60)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Dundee United.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, De la Vega, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Obed Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Minoungou, Musovski, Rodrigues, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Kansas City from:

Melia, Pulskamp, Schewe, Bassong, Castellanos, Fontas, Leibold, Ndenbe, Rindov, Rosero, Voloder, Flores, Hernandez, Rodriguez, Thommy, Walter, Afrifa, Agada, Cisneros, Pulido, Russell, Salloi, Shelton, Alenis Vargas.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Joao Paulo (calf).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Leo Chu (knee).

Kansas City -

OUT: Fernandez (groin), Radoja (groin).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Ndenbe (hamstring).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Kansas City: Davis is suspended and will not be available for selection on Sunday. It looks like two separate one-match bans, one for a sending-off for a second booking, and the second for accumulated bookings.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves drew 1:1 with Real Salt Lake Reserves at Starfire on Friday 13 September. Miglietti scored the goal for Sounders FC Reserves. In the team for Sounders FC Reserves: Shour, Baker, Lopez, Hawkins, Kossa-Rienzi, Brunell, Kitahara, Gomez, Aquino, Tsukanome, Miglietti. Substitutes: Fahling, De Rosario, Rodrigues, O’Malley, Helleren, Katsaros, Hassan. Well done lads! A point’s a point.

Sounders FC Reserves will next face Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at Swangard on 21 September. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. PDT.

Sounders FC Reserves are currently in 5th place in the MLS Next Pro league table on 42 points, 12 points adrift of leaders FC Dallas Reserves. Chris Aquino leads the team with 10 goals. Snyder Brunell and Travian Sousa lead the team in assists with four each.