The Seattle Sounders are hosting Atlanta United on Sunday in their first and only meeting of the 2023 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
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 93.3 KJR FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2023 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 10-8-6 (36 points, 4th West), Atlanta: 9-7-8 (35 points, 7th East)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LLDLW, Atlanta: DLLLW
PREVIOUS MEETING: Atlanta United defeated the Sounders 2-1 on Aug. 6, 2022, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta behind a stoppage-time winner from Andrew Gutman. Ronaldo Cisneros opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute before Cristian Roldan equalized for Seattle in the 68th minute.
ROTHROCK OFFICIALLY JOINS: Following several short-term loan agreements earlier this season, the Sounders on Tuesday signed Tacoma Defiance midfielder Paul Rothrock to a First Team contract. Rothrock, 24, is a former Sounders Academy product and has scored three times for the First Team this year, twice in the U.S. Open Cup and the match-winner against the Houston Dynamo in his Sounders MLS debut.
FREI ON BRINK OF HISTORY: If Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei plays against Atlanta on Sunday, he will set a club record for most appearances (340) across all competitions during the MLS era. He is currently tied with former captain, and current Atlanta United midfielder, Ozzie Alonso.
LONG REST: The Sounders and Atlanta United are coming off nearly three weeks of rest following their respective exits from the 2023 Leagues Cup. Seattle fell 3-0 to Real Salt Lake and lost 4-2 to Liga MX’s Monterrey in the group stage, while Atlanta United lost 4-0 to Inter Miami and then came up short in penalties against Mexico’s Cruz Azul after a 1-1 result.
Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers
The Seattle Sounders are back at Lumen Field this weekend for a rivalry match against the Portland Timbers on Sunday!
FAMILIAR FACES: Sunday will mark the first time that Gonzalo Pineda and Garth Lagerwey return to Lumen Field as members of the opposition. Pineda took over as Atlanta United’s Head Coach in 2021 after spending four seasons as Brian Schmetzer’s assistant. The former Mexican international also spent the final two years of his professional playing career with the Sounders. Lagerwey joined Atlanta United’s front office as President and CEO at the end of 2022 after spending eight years in Seattle as General Manager. The Sounders won two MLS Cups and a Concacaf Champions League title under his guidance.
USMNT CONNECTION: Sounders forward Jordan Morris and midfielder Cristian Roldan go head-to-head with Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson this weekend. The trio were teammates on the United States’ Concacaf Gold Cup roster this summer. Fellow Atlanta defender Caleb Wiley, 18, also made his USMNT debut earlier this year.
NEW SIGNINGS: Atlanta was busy during the Secondary Transfer Window, bringing in four players from overseas in midfielder Tristan Muyumba, forward Jamal Thiaré and wingers Xande Silva and Saba Lobjanidze. Muyumba joins from French Ligue 2 side EA Guingamp, Thiaré from French Ligue 1 club Le Havre, Silva on loan from French Ligue 2 outfit FCO Dijon and Lobjanidze from the Turkish Süper Lig’s Hatayspor.
