SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. FC DALLAS

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. The Dallas descend on The Evergreen for a Saturday afternoon matinee with our beloved Sounders FC.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. FC Dallas.

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

When: 12:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 24 May 2025 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. That’s right, points in the league. As the window begins to close on contesting the league championship, our season turns into a 34-match qualifying campaign for MLS Cup. Sounders FC are solidly mid-table just now at 13th place on 20 points, nine points adrift of leaders Philadelphia. A victory could get us past NYC (CHI), Miami (@PHI), and LAFC (@MTL), provided they all lose, although if NYC FC get a draw, we could still get past them. So best case scenario 10th place. Should we get a draw we could drop below any or all of CLT, CHI, and COL. Should we be defeated by the Dallas, we could fall below CLT, CHI, COL, SJ, NYRB, NE, and ATX. So, ultimately, little chance for advancing up the league table, and should we fail to keep pace, we could drop as low as 21st.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The MLS season grinds on and there is no rest for the weary. The Dallas are struggling and have not won in the league since 27 April, and were just jounced out of the US Open Cup by the New York Red Donkeys midweek. You’d think it would be three points ripe for the taking. Do we have what it takes to sort it?

It’s likely going to be a gorgeous day in Seattle on Sat. You could do worse than head out to the ground and make a day of it. It’s been nearly a fortnight since our last victory (10 May). To me that says that the lads could use some chuffing up. If you have the means and inclination, round up your mates and turn up for our Boys in Green.

It’s Sounders football, under the glaring sunlight at Royal Brougham Park on a Saturday 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 am going, I am going / Any which way the wind may be blowing /

I am going, I am going / Where streams of whiskey are flowing…” – Shane MacGowan

The Good News

Football + pints + mates + a sunny day in Seattle = a better than average afternoon, I’d say.

If you look at the stats from the Portland match, we were doing the right things. Sometimes you play well and the ball won’t go in the net. That said, if you keep playing well, theoretically, the goals will come.

Even with Arriola and Morris out, there’s still quite a bit of talent in the team.

The Bad News

TRANSFER SPEND/RESULTS OVER THE LAST THREE MLS SEASONS 2023-2025*

CLUB TOTAL SPEND LEAGUE TROPHIES WON

Atlanta €53.90M 10th, 20th, ? None

Cincinnati €38.86M 1st, 5th, ? MLS Champions

Austin €33.77M 25th, 18th, ? None

NYC FC €27.77M 22nd, 13th, ? None

Miami €26.68M 27th, 1st, ? Leagues Cup, MLS Champions

Dallas €26.35M 14th, 19th, ? None

LA Galaxy €24.89M 26th, 4th, ? MLS Cup

Portland         €24.06M 18th, 15th, ? None

Chicago         €22.64M 24th, 28th, ? None

LAFC €22.12M 8th, 3rd, ? US Open Cup

New England €21.88M 6th, 26th, ? None

Orlando         €21.14M 2nd, 9th, ? None

Salt Lake €20.08M 11th, 6th, ? None

Houston         €17.49M 9th, 8th, ? US Open Cup

Columbus €16.22M 3rd, 2nd, ? MLS Cup, Leagues Cup

Nashville €13.67M 12th, 25th, ? None

Colorado €13.35M 28th, 12th, ? None

Charlotte €12.09M 19th, 10th, ? None

Montreal €11.74M 20th, 17th, ? None

Minnesota €10.50M 21st, 11th, ? None

Kansas City €9.85M 15th, 27th, ? None

San Jose €9.45M 16th, 29th, ? None

DC United €9.12M 23rd, 20th, ? None

Philadelphia €8.29M 5th, 23rd, ? None

St. Louis         €8.80M 4th, 24th, ? None

New York RB €8.72M 17th, 16th, ? None

Sounders FC €8.23M 7th, 7th, ? None

Vancouver €4.22M 13th, 14th, ? Canadian Champions x2

Toronto €2.84M 29th, 11th, ? None

*This list includes aggregate transfer feeds paid from 2023 to where we are currently this season. Some transfer fees are undisclosed. This list does not include player wages.

The Side I Would Select

Dallas is the first match of three to be played over nine days. There’ll be ample time for rest if the training is light. So likely no need to conserve manpower. I rate Bell over Kim because age and national team status. I rate Kossa-Rienzi over Alex because age, pace, and also Kalani can score you a goal from time to time. I rate de la Vega over Kent, but that could change as we’ve not seen enough of Kent to really get a picture of what he brings to the side. Musovski is a matchday decision with a hip issue, so best to not take chances and give young Osaze a runout.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Bell

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rusnak

CAM    Ferreira

RF     de la Vega

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I think the Manager will runout the same 11 players as at Morrison Street, although it’s possible we’ll see De Rosario or Ferreira up top as Musovski has an ailing hip.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Kim

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Cristian

LF     Ferreira

CAM    Rusnak

RF     Kent

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Officiating.

Allen Chapman will be the Referee for Saturday’s match.

Sounders FC record with Chapman as Ref: 12-5-7

Dallas record with Chapman as Ref: 6-9-6

We are being outspent.

Dallas off-season transfer spend: €14.57M

Sounders off-season transfer spend: €1.25M

General notes on personnel

Dallas transfers IN:

“Pedrinho” Martins - reserves (by way of Flamengo)

Ramiro Benetti (Cruzeiro) free

Abubakar (Colorado Rapids) free

Anderson Julio (Real Salt Lake) €384,000

Moore (Nashville SC) €48,000

Leo Chu (Seattle Sounders FC) €1.83M + Ferreira + international roster slot

Collodi - reserves

Molina - reserves

Garcia - reserves

Ramirez - reserves

Baran - reserves

Pepi - reserves

Delgado (Independiente del Valle) €2.5M

Newman - draft

Urhoghide (Amiens SC) €3M

Acosta (FC Cincinnati) €4.8M

Alvaro Augusto (Portimonense SC) undisclosed

Kaick (Gremio) €3.7M

Dallas transfers OUT:

Ansah (FC Ashdod) free

Fraser (Crawley Town) free

Gonzalez (Chicago Fire) free

Illarramendi - released

Korca (NK Dubrava ZG) free

Maurer (Houston Dynamo) free

Parker - released

Ruan (Atletico Goianiense) free

Henry-Scott (Lexington SC) free

Sealy (CF Montreal) free

Twumasi - released

Junqua (Real Salt Lake) undisclosed

Ferreira (Seattle Sounders FC) €1.45M

Arriola (Seattle Sounders FC) up to €275,000 + Sounders 2026 1st round draft pick

Pondeca (New Mexico United) loan

Tafari (Los Angeles FC) €290,000

Velasco (Boca Juniors) €9.6M

Sali (Al-Riyadh) loan

Pepi (Texoma FC) loan

Endeley (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC) loan

Comparison against common opponents

RSL 2:0 SEA

RSL 0:1 DAL

DAL 1:1 RSL

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

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

HOU 1:2 DAL

DAL 0:2 HOU

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

SD 3:0 SEA

SD 5:0 DAL

(against SD: SEA 0-0-1 -3, DAL 0-0-1 -5) marginal edge SEA

COL 1:1 SEA

COL 3:3 DAL

(against COL: SEA 0-1-0 0, DAL 0-1-0 0) even

Know Thine Enemy

The Dallas, as they lined up in their 2:2 draw in the US Open Cup at the Red Donkeys’ Cape May Street ground on 21 May. The match would go to extra-time with the Red Donkeys advancing on penalty kicks.

GOALKEEPER

Maarten Paes, 27

Indonesia (8/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Utrecht (44/0), FC Dallas (103/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by VV Union and NEC Nijmegen.

DEFENCE

Nolan Norris, 20

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (13/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €100,000

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Has played at youth levels for United States (19/0).

Player, Age

Osaze Urhoghide, 24

Netherlands

Notable Clubs: Sheffield Wednesday (19/0), Oostende (34/0), Amiens (35/2), FC Dallas (13/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by CD Hounslow United and Wimbledon.

Alhassan “Lalas” Abubakar, 30

Ghana

Notable Clubs: Charlotte Eagles (14/2), Michigan Bucks (12/0), Columbus Crew SC (31/2), Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5/0), Colorado Rapids (139/9), FC Dallas (9/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Full name: Alhassan Abubakar. Played his university football for University of Ghana and also for Dayton (61/4).

Shaq Moore, 28

United States (21/1)

Notable Clubs: Huracan (6/0), Levante (6/0), Reus (9/0), Tenerife (90/1), Nashville SC (66/1), FC Dallas (12/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by IMG Academy, FC Dallas, and Huracan. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup with United States. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2021.

MIDFIELD

Ramiro Benetti, 31

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Juventude (24/2), Gremio (251/23), Corinthians (117/5), Al-Wasl (34/2), Cruzeiro (33/3), FC Dallas (12/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €700,000

Notes: Full name: Ramiro Moschen Benetti. Developed by Juventude. Won a Copa do Brasil, Copa Libertadores, Recopa Sudamericana with Gremio.

Luciano Acosta, 30

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Boca Juniors (25/2), Estudiantes (27/1), DC United (126/24), Atlas (33/3), FC Cincinnati (125/48), FC Dallas (13/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6M

Notes: Developed by Comunicaciones and Boca Juniors. Won an MLS league championship with FC Cincinnati. Named MLS MVP 2023. Named four times to MLS Best XI.

Kaick, 19

Brazil 

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (8/0) 

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Kaick da Silva Ferreira. Developed by Gremio.

FORWARD

Bernard Kamungo, 23

United States (1/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (55/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Abilene Warbirds (US High School). Has played for the Yanks’ U-23s (4/0).

Petar Musa, 27

Croatia (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Slavia Prague (30/11), Viktoria Zizkov (34/11), Slovan Liberec (28/7), Union Berlin (14/1), Boavista (27/11), Benfica (44/12), FC Dallas (40/19)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Hrvatski Dragovoljac and NK Zagreb. Won two Czech First League titles and a Czech Cup with Slavia Prague. Won a Premeira Liga title and a Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup) with Benfica. Shared a Czech First League Golden Boot with Libor Kozak seeing each player score 14 goals). Named Czech First League Forward of the Year 2019-20.

Anderson Julio, 28

Ecuador (1/0)

Notable Clubs: LDU Quito (109/23), San Luis (20/0), Real Salt Lake (111/25), FC Dallas (10/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Full name: Anderson Andres Julio Santos. Developed by Valle del Chota and LDU Quito. Won an Ecuadoran league title and a Copa Ecuador with LDU Quito.

Familiar Faces

Dallas forward Leo Chu played for the Sounders FC (79/7) from 2021-2024.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Burney, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Alex, Ragen, Sousa,Joao Paulo, Leyva, Cristian, Rusnak, Vargas, de la Vega, De Rosario, Ferreira, Kent, Minoungou, Musovski, Rothrock.

Dallas from:

Paes, Collodi, Carrera, Abubakar, Alvaro, Farfan, Geovane Jesus, Ibeagha, Molina, Moore, Newman, Norris, Urhoghide, Acosta, Kaick, Delgado, Garcia, Ntsabeleng, Pedrinho, Pomykal, Ramirez, Ramiro, Show, Urzua, Baran, Endeley, Farrington, Anderson Julio, Kamungo, Musa, Scott.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Morris (hamstring), Arriola (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Ragen (hamstring), Musovski (hip).

Dallas -

OUT: Leo Chu (knee), Lletget (leg).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Dallas: Although no players are suspended, one of their coaches, Michel Garbini, has been. Acosta is out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC are unbeaten at home this season with a record of 4-3-0 in all competitions.