SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. CF MONTREAL

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. CF Montreal make a transcontinental voyage of nearly 2300 miles to The Evergreen to face our beloved Sounders at Royal Brougham Park. Peut-être aurais-je dû dire la majeure partie de 3700 kilomètres, non.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. CF Montreal.

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

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 17 October 2026 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league for the purposes of MLS Cup qualification. Sounders are currently 13th place in the MLS league table on 41 points, 25 points adrift of leaders and likely league champions Nashville. The MLS Cup qualification table for the western region currently looks like this:

6 LAFC 4 matches remaining 45 points

7 Sounders 5 matches remaining 41 points

8 LA Galaxy 4 matches remaining 39 points

9 Colorado 5 matches remaining 38 points

———————————————————————————————————————————————

10 Portland         5 matches remaining 33 points

11 Salt Lake 5 matches remaining 33 points

12 San Diego 5 matches remaining 33 points

13 Minnesota 5 matches remaining 31 points

14 Austin 5 matches remaining 31 points

15 Kansas City 5 matches remaining 22 points

Relevant matches for Saturday:

NYC v. LAFC || LAG v. SD || POR v. COL

Where to Watch: Apple TV. Remember that for home matches, we have the option of selecting the KJR simulcast using the alternate audio setting in the Apple TV control layer.

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

Well. We gave as good as we got in Dallas. The football just wouldna get in the big white box. Epic streak, full marks for everyone that made it happen. Now we put that result in the rear-view, because that’s what professionals do.

CF Montreal, 29th place in the MLS league table, second from bottom. Easy peasy, right? Three points in the bank and we move on with a field trip to the Southland to play San Diego, right? The answer is: “Probably”.

Remember that murkiness I talked about when looking at common opponents before we played the Dallas? Well, there’s some of that here as well. The difference being that Dallas are 5th in the league and will likely be a favourite in the MLS Cup tournament, and Montreal are second-bottom in the league and leaking goals almost as badly as Kansas City. So some of the results against common opponents with Montreal are warning flags of a sort. They played better against the Red Donkeys, Cincinnati, Portland, and LA Galaxy. And that would be more concerning if they weren’t one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, and also nursing a -24 goal difference.

In addition, Montreal’s attack seems dependent on Daniel Rios, who at 31 years old isn’t really the threat at centre-forward that he was when he played with Nashville five years ago, and Alexis Sanchez, the 37 year old who joined Montreal on a free transfer from Sevilla and has exactly zero goals and zero assists in 10 matches wearing his new black and blue colours.

All the above is true, although outside of Owusu, Rios, and Carmona, no one is really scoring for Montreal. Owusu has hit 15 goals, but he’s injured and unavailable for Saturday. In theory, it’s easier to defend when you know where the goals are likely coming from. This could be a problem.

All of that said, I like our chances. If we stay sharp and avoid complacency, we should do just fine. But if we slip up, even just a bit, 10 gets you 20 that players like Rios, Owusu, Carmona, and Sanchez will be there to pounce.

This is the paragraph where we mobilise the Brougham. Gotta have those points, yeh? Get ye to the ground and link up with ours if you have the means and time. Failing that, we gather around the telly, with high hopes, and every intent to lend every erg of energy we can to the lads.

It’s Sounders football under the Saturday night lights of Royal Brougham Park. ALLEZ LES SOUNDERS!!! COMBATTRE ET GAGNER!!!

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

The streak may be over, but we live to fight another day. Come Saturday night, Montreal will have to deal with us. On our terms. At our ground. Bienvenue au CF Montréal. Bienvenue dans l'enfer vert.

The Good News

By the numbers, we are better than Montreal. We have earned 41 points in the league to their 24. Our goal difference is +2 compared to their -24. We play extremely well at home (9-3-5), and Montreal are shite on the road (3-2-11).

Sounders are 4-0-1 in their last five matches, whereas Montreal are 2-0-3 over the same stretch. Our recent form bears out as definitely better.

Sounders have the 4th best defence in the league. Conversely, Montreal are bleeding goals like it’s going out of style, with the clearest example being a 7:1 humbling at Miami on 29 August.

We are finally playing against a team that has an estimated squad aggregate transfer value that is over €15M less than ours, with the transfer spending between the two of us being close to equal. I cannae remember us having that kind of advantage over an opponent since we played Queretaro in Leagues Cup.

Montreal has only won one match in their last nine (1-1-7). If we’re sharp enough and disciplined enough to make the plays we need to, the visitors are ripe for the picking.

The last time we faced these, we crushed them 5:0.

The Bad News

All-time results in the league don’t really favour us against Montreal at 3-1-6. Even at Royal Brougham Park the record only “betters” to 2-0-3. It’s true we got the better of them last time we met, but you have to note that that was two and a half years ago.

We’ve only hit three more goals than they have in all competitions. That’s a dead-heat when you run the numbers. You can offset that a bit, as our scoring has picked up significantly since mid-September, but when you look at this on paper it’s a bit troubling. The fact that the Dallas were able to successfully park the bus against us for 30 minutes after Kaick broke through on Wednesday is worrisome, to say the least.

The 1:0 defeat at Dallas was the first time we’ve been shut out since 5 September in our scoreless draw with the Red Donkeys. Montreal had no such trouble with them and defeated them in both their league fixtures by the scores of 0:3 and 4:1. Montreal also earned a 2:2 draw against Portland, which is more than we could manage this season.

The Side I Would Select

Even though Montreal is second-bottom in the league table, the loss at Dallas means we need these points. I’d go with our most experienced hands. Should Nouhou’s hand injury keep him out of the team, it might be a good idea to use Antino Lopez, who has deputised at left-back once this season. The only other option I can think of would be to call up Codey Phoenix from the Reserves to play on the left side of defence.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH     Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Dotson

RDM   Cristian

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Joveljic

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

If these aren’t in the team, I will be surprised. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Lopez in the team at left-back, should Nouhou be unfit to play.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH     Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB      Alex

LDM    Dotson

RDM   Cristian

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Joveljic

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s match will be Fotis Bazakos.

SEA record with Bazakos as Ref: 4-3-3

MTL record with Bazakos as Ref: 6-5-8

SEA aggregate squad estimated transfer value: €50.83M

MTL aggregate squad estimated transfer value: €34.23M

SEA 2026 transfer fees paid: €5.2M

MTL 2026 transfer fees paid: €4.8M* *includes loan fees

Montreal’s caretaker Manager, Philippe Eullaffroy, has previously worked for Reims, Trois-Rivieres Attak, Montreal Impact Academy, FC Montreal, and Soccer Quebec, and has been an assistant at Montreal Impact and CF Montreal. Eullaffroy holds a UEFA ‘A’ License.

General notes on personnel

Montreal transfers IN:

Vera (Real Salt Lake) €1.03M

Nteziryayo - reserves

Losenko (Shakhtar Donetsk) loan

Rios (Guadalajara) free

Keita - reserves

Carmona (New York RB) free

Streit (Basel) undisclosed

Amaya (Toluca) loan

Pereira (Austin FC) €1.84M

Gazdov (St. Pauli) loan ended

Ceballos (New England Revolution) €660,000

Sanchez (Sevilla) free

Sealy (Colorado Rapids) €1.2M

Radojevic (Chicago Fire) loan - fee: €85,000

Montreal transfers OUT:

Alvarez (Deportivo Cali) free

Duke (San Diego FC) free

Pearce - released

Biello (Supra du Quebec) free

Vrioni - released

Coccaro (Newell’s Old Boys) free

Samson (FC Cincinnati) loan

Sirois (FC Dallas) €127,000

Marshall-Rutty (New York RB) free

Opoku (Panetolikos) free

Ibrahim - released

Aviles (Inter Miami CF) loan terminated

Guboglo (Reims) loan

Thorhallsson (San Diego FC) €440,000

Comparison against common opponents

SEA 1:1 SD

SD 5:0 MTL

(against SD: SEA 0-1-0 0, MTL 0-0-1 -5) decisive edge SEA

SEA 2:2 CHI

CHI 3:0 MTL

MTL 0:2 CHI

(against CHI: SEA 0-1-0 0, MTL 0-0-2 -5) decisive edge SEA

SEA 0:0 NYRB

NYRB 0:3 MTL

MTL 4:1 NYRB

(against NYRB: SEA 0-1-0 0, MTL 2-0-0 +6) decisive edge MTL

CIN 1:1 SEA

CIN 4:3 MTL

MTL 3:1 CIN

(against CIN: SEA 0-1-0 0, MTL 1-0-1 +1) edge MTL

NE 0:3 SEA

NE 3:0 MTL

MTL 2:2 NE

(against NE: SEA 1-0-0 +3, MTL 0-1-1 -3) decisive edge SEA

PHI 1:0 SEA

MTL 1:2 PHI

PHI 2:0 MTL

(against PHI: SEA 0-0-1 -1, MTL 0-0-2 -3) marginal edge SEA

SEA 1:5 POR

POR 2:1 SEA

MTL 2:2 POR

(against POR: SEA 0-0-2 -5, MTL 0-1-0 0) decisive edge MTL

SEA 0:2 LAG

LAG 1:1 SEA

MTL 2:2 LAG

(against LAG: SEA 0-1-1 -2, MTL 0-1-0 0) marginal edge MTL

SEA 2:0 COL

COL 3:3 SEA

COL 1:0 MTL

(against COL: SEA 1-1-0 +2, MTL 0-0-1 -1) decisive edge SEA

SEA 0:2 VAN

VAN 0:3 SEA CCC

SEA 2:1 VAN * CCC *Spokane

VAN 1:1 MTL CC

MTL 2:1 VAN CC

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

Know Thine Enemy

Montreal as they lined up in their 0:3 defeat against Atlanta at Stade de Montreal on 14 October.

GOALKEEPER

Sebastian Breza, 28

Canada

Notable Clubs: CF Montreal (45/0), Yverdon (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €250,000

Notes: Developed by FS Salaberry, CS Sainte-Julie, Monopoli, and Palermo. Won a Canadian Championship and George Gross Memorial Trophy (Canadian Championship MVP) with CF Montreal.

DEFENCE

Luca Petrasso, 26

Canada (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Toronto FC (23/0), Orlando City SC (13/0), CF Montreal (61/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Kleinburg-Nobleton SC and Toronto FC. Won a Canadian Championship with Toronto FC.

Brandan Craig, 22

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (1/0), El Paso Locomotive (19/1), CF Montreal (38/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

Notes: Developed by Philadelphia Union. Has played for United States (24/1) at youth levels. Won a CONCACAF U-20 Championship with United States.

Jalen Neal, 23

United States (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (34/1), CF Montreal (32/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Los Angeles Galaxy. Won an MLS Cup with Los Angeles Galaxy. Won a CONCACAF U-20 Championship with United States. Named to CONCACAF U-20 Championship Best XI.

David Bugaj, 22

Poland

Notable Clubs: Lechia Gdansk (27/0), CF Montreal (51/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Developed by Molde and SPAL. Won a I Liga (Poland 2nd Division) title with Lechia Gdansk. Has played for Poland (22/2) at youth levels.

MIDFIELD

Daniel Pereira, 26

Venezuela (13/0)

Notable Clubs: Austin FC (148/4), CF Montreal (8/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Full name: Daniel Pereira Gil. Developed by Virginia Blue Ridge Star. Played his university football for Virginia Tech (26/6).

Alexis Sanchez, 37

Chile (168/51)

Notable Clubs: Cobreloa (47/12), Udinese (108/20), Colo-Colo (32/5), River Plate (23/4), Barcelona (88/39), Arsenal (122/60), Manchester United (32/3), Inter Milan (102/18), Marseille (35/14), Sevilla (28/4), CF Montreal (10/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Universidad Catolica, Escuela Bernardo O’Higgins, and Cobreloa. Has won 17x trophies with six different clubs. Won 2x Copa America with Chile. His full list of honours can be viewed here.

Matty Longstaff, 26

England

Notable Clubs: Newcastle (14/2), Aberdeen (5/0), Mansfield Town (16/6), Colchester United (7/0), Toronto FC (49/2), CF Montreal (36/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Newcastle.

FORWARD

Noah Streit, 21

Switzerland

Notable Clubs: Neuchatel Xamax (18/2), CF Montreal (23/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Developed by Biel-Bienne and Basel. Has played for Switzerland U-21s (7/0). Won a Swiss U-19 championship with Basel U-19s.

Daniel Rios, 31

Mexico

Notable Clubs: Guadalajara (19/1), Zacatepec (13/4), North Carolina FC (31/20), Nashville SC (61/25), Charlotte FC (27/7), Atlanta United (27/7), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (31/3), CF Montreal (25/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Guadalajara. Won a Copa MX and Supercopa MX with Guadalajara.

Wikelman Carmona, 23

Venezuela (5/0)

Notable Clubs: New York RB (102/5), CF Montreal (19/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Academia Dynamo.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Anchor, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Nouhou, Alex, Ragen, Sailor, Brunell, Kingston, Clark, Cristian, Dotson, Rusnak, Arriola, Ferreira, Gomez, Joveljic, Morris, Musovski.

Montreal from:

Breza, Gazdov, Keita, Neal, Vera, Craig, Petrasso, Morales, Bugaj, Radojevic, Nteziryayo, Piette, Pereira, Longstaff, Carmona, Synchuk, Herbers, Loturi, Amaya, Losenko, Escobar, Sanchez, Rios, Streit.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Rothrock (hamstring), De la Vega (quadriceps), Petkovic (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Nouhou (hand).

Montreal -

OUT: Ceballos (lower body, we’ll say anal fissures), Gillier (upper body, we’ll say abscessed boil on his back), Hidalgo (lower body, we’ll say Pilonidal sinus with recurrent drainage), Owusu (lower body, we’ll say gangrene of the genital region), Sealy (lower body, we’ll say testicular torsion and swelling).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Kingston out next match if booked.

Montreal: No players suspended. Craig out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

According to Sounders FC Communications, Albert Rusnak earned his 52nd assist in last Saturday’s match at Foxboro. This moves Rusnak past Fredy Montero for third most assists in club history (in all competitions). Congratulations, Albert and well done!