The Seattle Sounders visit the Columbus Crew on Saturday in the first and only meeting between the two sides during the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 8-5-5 (29 points, 3rd West), Crew: 5-12-2 (17 points, 11th East)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LWLLL, Columbus: LLLDL
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 5-4-4 all-time against the Crew, including a 3-2-1 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Rave Green battled the Crew to a scoreless draw at CenturyLink Field on May 5, 2018. Competing without the services of playmaker Nicolás Lodeiro, the Sounders failed to translate their dominance of possession into meaningful chances, despite playing up a man for 75 minutes. There was one bright spot to emerge from the match, as it featured Kim Kee-hee’s first-ever start in Seattle.
BOUNCE BACK: The Sounders enter Saturday’s fixture on the back of a disappointing 3-0 loss at New York City FC. Their matchup with the Crew presents an opportunity to get back in the win column, as Columbus is winless in its last seven MLS matches.
ROAD WOES: Dominant at home, the Sounders have struggled to pick up points on the road this season, posting a 1-5-3 record away from CenturyLink Field.
Jones has started two matches during his second stint with Seattle | Sebastián Ramírez
REINFORCEMENTS: Between international call-ups and injuries, Brian Schmetzer has not had a full complement of players in months. While he’ll still be without the services of Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris and Raúl Ruidíaz, the likes of Xavier Arreaga, Román Torres, Joevin Jones, Gustav Svensson, Brad Smith, Víctor Rodríguez and Nicolás Lodeiro will all be available for selection.
SCUSA, CALEB: There will be a familiar face on the sidelines for the Crew. Former Portland Timbers manager Caleb Porter took the helm in Ohio during the offseason, replacing current United States Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter.
SO MUCH (SOUNDERS) SOCCER: Sounders fans get a triple-serving of soccer this weekend, as Ruidíaz and Peru will play in the Copa América final on Saturday before Morris, Roldan and the USMNT take on Mexico in the Gold Cup title match on Sunday.
RUDDERLESS ATTACK: The Crew have only scored 16 goals from 17 MLS regular season games this season. Ten of those goals were scored by Gyasi Zardes, who is away with the USMNT at Gold Cup.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: 17-year-old striker Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez has come off the bench in each of the Sounders’ last two matches, showing flashes of why he’s such a highly-touted prospect. 16-year-old midfielder Danny Leyva, who put in a sterling performance in Seattle’s 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, was rested against NYCFC and will be available for selection on Saturday.
