A pair of MLS sides that we are used to seeing compete for first in the Western Conference are simply looking to remain in the playoff picture as the Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Lumen Field.
Seattle are unbeaten in their previous three domestic affairs, sitting in the final postseason position, while KC have won two consecutive matches in all competitions and are four points behind the Rave Green.
Match preview
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Four days after putting on a virtuoso display at home versus the Vancouver Whitecaps, winning 4-0, we saw a sleepy and at times sloppy affair from Seattle against Los Angeles FC.
The fact that their technical play was far below their high standards and they still managed to collect a point says a lot about how far this team have come since the start of the season and the kind of difference makers this team possess.
Brian Schmetzer's men are now unbeaten in four consecutive home fixtures, and with two more games to be played in the Emerald City this month, it is conceivable to see them in a top-four position before the start of July.
At this stage of the campaign, the Sounders have only suffered one defeat when scoring first, though they have squandered seven points when leading in the second half.
They did not show it as much as we are used to seeing last Saturday, but the Rave Green have some pretty effective continuity and understanding with each other on the field, regardless of who is playing.
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It may be too soon to say there is life in Kansas City, but given how rough things have been, to see them win consecutive games is a positive step forward.
Last Sunday, they did not beat just anyone either, but Nashville SC, one of the stoutest defensive units in the league, who had a 25-match unbeaten run at home before that encounter.
KC followed that up with a dominant 6-0 victory over Union Omaha to advance to the semi-finals of the U.S. Open Cup, so they might be putting together a bit of a resurgence.
Lumen Field may be one of the most intimidating venues in the league to play in, but it seems as though this team are oblivious to that, winning their last three road contests in the Pacific Northwest, scoring multiple goals in each of those triumphs.
2022 has been to put it mildly a challenging season for Peter Vermes to try to navigate, perhaps more than any previous one that the longest tenured MLS coach has ever experienced.
Not only have they lost numerous critical attacking players through injury, but they seem to be a step behind their opponents in transition, conceding the joint second-most goals in the league.
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Team News
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Albert Rusnak tallied his first-ever goal in a Seattle uniform last weekend, while Stefan Frei was busy again, stopping six of the seven shots that he faced, helping his side earn a point.
Jordan Morris saw his two-game scoring streak end on Saturday, while Alex Roldan and Nicolas Lodeiro lead them in assists with three.
Joao Paulo remains on the sidelines with an ACL tear, Yeimar Gomez Andrade has a right hamstring strain, Stefan Cleveland is questionable with a face laceration and Raul Ruidiaz is unlikely to feature because of a hamstring injury.
Daniel Salloi and Felipe Hernandez both had braces in Sporting's 6-0 triumph at the U.S. Open Cup this week, with Khiry Shelton and Kortne Ford also finding the back of the net.
John Pulskamp replaced Tim Melia in goal, collecting a clean sheet in that encounter, while Johnny Russell has four goals in his last five MLS affairs, leading the way for SKC with seven in all competitions.
The injured list in Kansas City is still extensive, with Ozzie Cisneros (hamstring), Gadi Kinda (knee surgery), Alan Pulido (knee surgery), and Nikola Vujnovic all out.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Ragen, Cissoko, Tolo; Rusnak, Rowe; C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris; Montero
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Sweat, Fontas, Isimat-Mirin, Zusi; Walter; Duke, Hernandez; Salloi, Shelton, Russell
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
KC may be growing in confidence, but there is no team in MLS who are better at crushing your spirits than the Sounders.
Seattle have shown more consistency, and even when they are not at their best, they always seem to power through and come up with a favourable result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
