The Seattle Sounders are visiting Charlotte FC on Saturday in their first and only meeting of the season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in English on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2023 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 8-6-3 (27 points, 2nd West), Charlotte: 6-8-3 (21 points, 9th East)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first, MLS matches only): Seattle: DLWLL, Charlotte: LLWLW
PREVIOUS MEETING: In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, the Sounders defeated Charlotte FC 2-1 in Seattle on May 29, 2022. Ben Bender opened the scoring for the visitors in the 21st minute before Jordan Morris and Raúl Ruidíaz scored in the 72nd and 80th minutes, respectively, to secure all three points.
CRISTIAN COMES BACK: Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan made his first appearance since April when he came on as a second-half substitute against the Portland Timbers last week. Roldan had missed significant time while recovering from a concussion.
ALEX ROLDAN ALSO RETURNS: Sounders right back Alex Roldan will also be available for selection after missing last weekend’s match while serving a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation.
POSSESSSION, POSSESSION, POSSESSION: The Sounders lead MLS in total passes this season with nearly 700 more than second-place Columbus Crew SC. Seattle is also first in accurate long balls and accurate forward zone passes.
DEFENSIVE FORTITUDE CONTINUES: The Sounders still lead MLS in clean sheets with nine on the season after another home shutout last weekend. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei earned his 100th career clean sheet in the process, and Seattle has allowed just 14 goals through 17 league matches.
CHARLOTTE DEFENSIVE WOES: Charlotte FC, on the other hand, has conceded the most goals in MLS this year with 30. Charlotte has allowed three or more goals in a game five times this year.
INAUGURAL VISIT: The Sounders will make their first visit to the Queen City after Charlotte FC joined MLS as an expansion team in 2022. Charlotte is averaging the second-highest attendance in the league with nearly 40,000 fans per match.
POLE POSITION: Charlotte is led in goalscoring this year by Polish international forward Karol Świderski. The 26-year-old Designated Player has five tallies through 15 matches after bagging 10 in his debut MLS season last year.
