SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Kansas City Wiz– I mean, Kansas City Wizar– I mean, Sporting Kansas City travel to The Evergreen for a Sunday night dust-up at Royal Brougham Park.

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

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

When: 6:15 p.m Pacific Daylight Time, Sunday 24 August 2025 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league and MLS Cup qualifying position. With winning the league out of reach, Sounders FC are still in the running for two trophies: Leagues Cup and MLS Cup. Sounders currently occupy the W4 slot for MLS Cup seeding, 11 points adrift of San Diego who currently hold the W1 slot. Although Portland can’t catch us with a single victory, LAFC can if we lose or draw Kansas City. Sounders FC are currently in 12th place in the MLS league table on 41 points, 11 points adrift of leaders San Diego with eight league matches left to play. (Disclaimer: point totals were recorded at 8:30 PDT on 23 August and may change after matches in progress at Salt Lake, Vancouver, LA Galaxy, and San Diego reach full-time).

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Sports Deportes.

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

Sure, Kansas City is in 24th place in the MLS league table, having the 18th-place defence in the league and a goal difference of -13. In addition, Kansas City have an away record in all competitions of 3-2-9. What I have learnt in my nearly 10 seasons of covering the Sounders is that you can generally throw statistics out the window for MLS league matches.

Unless clubs are in the top three or bottom three in statistical categories, it’s pretty much the rigid parity at all costs that the league’s owners and executives intended. This means, anyone has a shot at a win, no matter what the numbers say. I will cite the Atlanta United v Sounders FC match from 26 July. At the time, Atlanta were in 26th place in the MLS table, their home form was spotty (4-4-4), they were struggling to score goals (1.17 goals/match), and they were bleeding goals in defence (1.87 goals conceded/match). We were surely going to win that match. Except we didn’t.

The match began with Gomez Andrade scoring a truly fluky own-goal on 7 minutes. He attempted to clear our lines, but the ball had uncontrollable spin on it, Thomas came off his line to collect, and the attempted clearance chipped over him and into our net. We rallied with de la Vega equalising on 54 minutes, followed by a stunning stoppage-time goal by young Osaze De Rosario on 90+5 minutes. Surely this would be a late winner. Then Miranchuk equalised, smashing a rasping belter for Atlanta on 90+9 minutes and two points evaporated.

So yes, we pay attention to the numbers, because that’s sensible, with the provision that in MLS many bizarre and inexplicable outcomes are possible. Earlier in the season, longtime Manager for Kansas City, Peter Vermes, was sacked over poor results. The players realise that if they continue to fail, they may be the next ones let go. Fear is a powerful motivator. This could be a very difficult match, at a time when we’re the ones struggling to score goals.

All that said, support is vital. If you have the means and inclination, get ye to the ground and link up with ours. If that’s not possible, it’s pubs, dwellings, houses, flats, boats, and ships. No rest for the weary. Time to chuff up the lads.

It’s Sounders football under the Sunday night lights of Royal Brougham Park. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

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

When questioned by Seattle Times’ Jada Evans re: frequent lapses in player discipline, the Gaffer responded: “…So what I would say, Jada, is some of the red cards are unacceptable to me. Yes, I did say that’s not going to happen again, but unfortunately, I don’t have a joystick that controls players…”

The Good News

Sounders have a decisive edge in form with a record of 3-1-1 in their last five matches in all competitions. Kansas City are 0-1-4 over the same period.

Royal Brougham Park is still a fortress, with Sounders holding a 11-6-4 record in all competitions at home. Kansas City do not travel well and have posted a 3-2-9 record in all competitions on the road this season.

Sounders are statistically more likely to score two goals this match (average of 1.70), and Kansas City are statistically more likely to concede two goals (average of 1.93). That should be enough for a victory, in theory.

The Bad News

That two-day turn-around between Sunday night in the league and Wednesday night in Leagues Cup Semi-Finals isn’t doin’ us any favours.

Although all-time stats really don’t apply so much in MLS due to constant churn, it’s interesting to note that Sounders’ all-time record in the league against Kansas City is 14-4-12, and our all-time league record when Kansas City play us in Seattle is 7-2-6. If you go by these numbers, a victory is a roughly 50/50 proposition no matter where the match is held.

As I pointed out in the intro, Kansas City will likely be highly motivated to get a result, so as players and coaches maybe don’t get the sack. This will probably make this a more difficult match for us than you would expect considering the disparity in statistical metrics.

We are having trouble scoring goals of late, having been shut out in our last two matches. This needs fixing. Soon like.

The Side I Would Select

With Leagues Cup Semi-Final being a two-day turnaround from Sunday’s match against Kansas City, I’d play the players that have the least aggregate minutes in all competitions in the team. If they’re not good enough to run out in the team, they shouldnae be in the squad in the first place.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Bell

RCH    Kim

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Brunell

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Leyva

RF     Minoungou

CF     Musovski

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Gaffer says he’s gonna rotate the team. I’d imagine that’ll be more limited than he’s hinting at. Wily, old man. Expect subs if we’re even on goals or trailing in and around the 70th minute.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Kim

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Cristian

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Rothrock

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Officiating.

The Referee for Sunday night’s match will be Chris Penso.

SEA record with Penso as Ref: 12-3-5

SKC record with Penso as Ref: 11-6-8

We’ve been outspent again.

SEA 2025 transfer fees paid: €1.45M

SKC 2025 transfer fees paid: €7.45M

Fixture clutter.

There will only be a two-day turn-around between Sunday night’s match and the Leagues Cup Semi-Final at Avalon Boulevard. LA Galaxy, however, will have a three-day turn-around, having played on Saturday, 23 August.

General notes on personnel

Kansas City transfers IN:

James - academy

Kortkamp - academy

Bartlett - draft

Toye (Portland Timbers) free

Joveljic (Los Angeles Galaxy) €3.85M

Garcia (Aris Thessaloniki) €3.6M

Miller - draft

Brody (MLS Pool) free

Munoz (Santos Laguna) loan

Montes (Necaxa) loan

Kansas City transfers OUT:
Castellanos (Tampa Bay Rowdies) free

Cisneros - released

Flores (Tulsa Athletic) free

Fontas - retired

Melia - retired

Rindov (Ventura County) free

Russell (Real Salt Lake) free

Walter - released

Pulido (Guadalajara) €1.45M

Vargas (SJK Seinajoki) free

Agada (Real Salt Lake) €440,000

Rosero - released

Comparison against common opponents

SEA 2:2 CLT

SKC 2:1 CLT

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

RSL 2:0 SEA

SKC 1:1 RSL

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

SEA 5:2 LAFC

LAFC 4:0 SEA

SKC 0:2 LAFC

LAFC 3:1 SKC

(against LAFC: SEA 1-0-1 -1, SKC 0-0-2 -4) decisive edge SEA

STL 1:0 SEA

SEA 4:1 STL

SKC 2:0 STL

STL 2:2 SKC

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

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

HOU 1:3 SKC

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

SJ 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

SKC 1:2 SJ

SJ 3:5 SKC

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

SD 3:0 SEA

SEA 1:0 SD

SD 0:0 SKC
SKC 0:2 SD

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

DAL 0:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 DAL

DAL 2:1 SKC

SKC 2:4 DAL

(against DAL: SEA 2-0-0 +2, SKC 0-0-2 -3) decisive edge SEA

COL 1:1 SEA
SEA 3:3 COL

COL 1:2 SKC

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

POR 1:1 SEA

SKC 2:4 POR

POR 1:0 SKC

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

SEA 2:3 MIN

MIN 1:0 SEA

SKC 3:3 MIN

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

VAN 3:0 SEA

VAN 3:0 SKC

(against VAN: SEA 0-0-1 -3, SKC 0-0-1 -3) even

SEA 2:0 ATX
ATX 1:0 SKC

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

LAG 0:4 SEA

SKC 1:0 LAG

(against LAG: SEA 1-0-0 +4, SKC 1-0-0 +1) edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Kansas City as they lined up in their 3:1 defeat against Orlando at Church Street on 16 August.

GOALKEEPER

John Pulskamp, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Sporting Kansas City (55/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Developed by Central California Aztecs, Real So Cal, and Los Angeles Galaxy.

DEFENCE

Tim Leibold, 31

Germany

Notable Clubs: Nurnberg (102/8), Hamburg (78/5), Sporting Kansas City (60/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

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

Jansen Miller, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: Sporting Kansas City (23/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

Notes: Developed by Parkway West High School, Saint Louis FC, and St. Louis Scott Gallagher. Played his university football for Xavier (27/?) and Indiana (50/?).

Robert Voloder, 24

Germany

Notable Clubs: Maribor (20/2), Sporting Kansas City (60/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

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

Khiry Shelton, 32

United States

Notable Clubs: New York City FC (56/6), Sporting Kansas City (158/12), SC Paderborn (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

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

MIDFIELD

Santiago Munoz, 23

Mexico

Notable Clubs: Santos Laguna (79/6), Sporting Kansas City (13/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Full name: Santiago Rene Munoz Robles. Developed by Santos Laguna and Newcastle United. Has played for Mexico (24/10) at youth levels. Won CONCACAF U-17 Championship, and CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship with Mexico U-23s. Scored FIFA U-17 World Cup Goal of the Tournament.

Jacob Davis, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: Sporting Kansas City (77/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by Sporting Kansas City.

Zorhan Bassong, 26

Canada (5/0)

Notable Clubs: CF Montreal (36/0), Arges Pitesti (8/0), Farul Constanta (2/0), Sporting Kansas City (40/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

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

Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov, 25

Russia

Notable Clubs: Krasnodar (87/16), Giresunspor (31/3), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (29/5), Aris (43/6), Sporting Kansas City (26/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by RSDYuShOR-2 Makhachkala (this is not a typo) and Krasnodar.

FORWARD

Mason Toye, 26

United States

Notable Clubs: Minnesota United FC (42/7), CF Montreal (48/11), Portland Timbers (5/0), Sporting Kansas City (13/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

Notes: Developed by New York RB. Played his university football for Indiana (25/10).

Dejan Joveljic, 26

Serbia (6/2)

Notable Clubs: Red Star Belgrade (21/11), Eintracht Frankfurt (4/0), Anderlecht (5/1), Wolfsberger AC (34/18), Los Angeles Galaxy (106/34), Sporting Kansas City (24/14)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5.5M

Notes: Developed by Sloga Junajted and Red Star Belgrade. Won 2x Serbian SuperLiga titles with Red Star Belgrade. Won an MLS Cup with Los Angeles Galaxy.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

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

Kansas City from:

Pulskamp, Schewe, James, Brody, Voloder, Shelton, Liebold, Miller, Ndenbe, Radoja, Bartlett, Davis, Bassong, Munoz, Joveljic, Salloi, Toye, Afrifa, Suleymanov.

Note: Rodriguez and Montes are both listed as Out - Not Due To Injury. In the case of Montes, it’s likely visa issues, as he’s newly on loan from Necaxa. No idea why Rodriguez is unavailable, and I couldn’t find anything at Kansas City’s website that explains it.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Kent (hamstring), Rusnak (hamstring), Morris (shoulder), Joao Paulo (knee), Arriola (knee), Hawkins (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Kansas City -

OUT: Fernandez (hamstring), Garcia (quadriceps), Kortkamp (head), Thommy (hip).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Kansas City: No players suspended. Bassong and Garcia out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

“Sounders FC defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade is set to hit 200 all-competition appearances with his next appearance. The Colombian international was named to the MLS Best XI in 2021 and 2024.” (Per Sounders FC Communications)