The Seattle Sounders are visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday in their second meeting of the MLS season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. PT at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on Q13 FOX.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 10-3-6 (36 points, 2nd West), Dallas: 5-8-6 (21 points, 10th West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle and FC Dallas met for the first time this season just two weeks ago in a 1-1 draw at Lumen Field. Fredy Montero scored the opener for the Sounders in the 72nd minute, but FCD left with a point after Franco Jara poked home an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Sounders: WDLLW, Dallas: LWDWW
REVENGE MATCH: The Sounders will feel hard-done to have dropped two points at home last time out against Dallas, a match in which Seattle controlled most of the game but couldn’t find a crucial second goal.
MOMENTUM RUNNETH OVER: Seattle could not have asked for two better matches in between its last meeting with Dallas and the one this Wednesday. The Rave Green thoroughly worked Liga MX’s Tigres 3-0 in the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals before dropping the hammer on the rival Portland Timbers 6-2 this past weekend. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer will likely rotate his lineup midweek with a 2020 MLS Cup rematch at Columbus Crew SC looming on Saturday, but the Sounders are finally healthy enough to have a legitimate chance to earn three points.
LODEIRO FACTOR: Captain Nicolás Lodeiro made his long-awaited return to action against FC Dallas two weeks ago after being sidelined nearly all season with a knee injury. He made a brief cameo, then went 25 minutes against Tigres and most recently a full half against the Timbers as he ramps his way to full fitness. How much he’ll play in a midweek road match is to be determined, but expect him to have an impact in some capacity.
THE FORTRESS HAS FALLEN: FC Dallas was one of only two teams (Nashville SC) to have been undefeated at home this season, but they enter Wednesday fresh off a 2-0 defeat at Toyota Stadium to Sporting Kansas City. The Sounders will look to leave Frisco in similar fashion.
MLS ALL-STARS: The Sounders are sending a league-high six players to the 2021 MLS All-Star Game on Aug. 25 when they take on the best of Mexico’s Liga MX. Raúl Ruidíaz, Cristian Roldan, Alex Roldan, João Paulo, Yeimar and Nouhou will join FC Dallas forward Ricardo Pepi, the 18-year-old U.S. youth international who is tied for seventh in MLS with eight goals this season.
SCHÖN SIGNS OF PROGRESS: The recent contributions of Dallas’ 20-year-old Hungarian winger Szabolcs Schön has helped pull FCD from the Western Conference basement to within two points of the playoff line. The former Ajax academy player has been excellent after getting an extended run with Dallas following his stint at Euro 2020 with Hungary. He enters Wednesday with four assists in his last five matches.
