The Seattle Sounders head into their final road fixture of the 2022 MLS campaign at Sporting Kansas City in need of a victory and a lot of help to maintain their slim playoff hopes.
KC have already been eliminated from postseason contention, while the Sounders will also be if they manage anything less than a victory or if Minnesota United defeat the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
Match preview
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Kansas City have saved their best for last, unbeaten in their last six MLS affairs, outscoring their previous two opponents (DC United and Minnesota United) by a margin of 7-1.
Unfortunately for Peter Vermes, it will not be enough to get his side over the playoff line this year, but it should give the long-time head coach plenty of positives to draw upon heading into 2023 given the amount of newcomers who have got their first taste of MLS soccer.
Since the beginning of August, SKC have points in seven of their eight matches played, averaging 2.63 goals per game and a .750 winning percentage over that span.
Historically, they have only dropped three of their 22 regular season home finales while winning their last five matches at Children's Mercy Park this year.
October has been very good to them over the past few years, unbeaten in 11 successive fixtures in that month since 2015, claiming nine victories.
2022 will only be the second time historically that this club have ever missed the postseason under the Sporting Kansas City moniker.
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A playoff streak spanning 13 years could potentially be over by the time the Rave Green take to the field versus SKC on Sunday.
Only a San Jose Earthquakes win or draw against the Loons will keep the Sounders' postseason aspirations afloat, although if the latter occurs, then Seattle will need to win on Sunday to stay in the hunt.
Their playoff chances look bleak at the moment, and it might be compounded by the fact that Brian Schmetzer's men have had their share of setbacks on the road, claiming just a single point in eight successive away fixtures.
Missing the playoffs for a team who have finished in a top two position in the Western Conference standings over the past five regular seasons would be a massive disappointment, especially considering this team captured the CONCACAF Champions League trophy earlier this year.
In 2022, Seattle have gained 21 points from losing positions but have also dropped 17 from winning ones, which puts them in a tie for the third and fourth in MLS in those respective categories.
They have managed to win three matches this season when trailing at the half, which is tied for the most in the league, while the Rave Green have suffered several narrow defeats, losing 12 regular season encounters by a single goal, more than any side in MLS over this campaign.
Team News
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William Agada has seven goals for Sporting Kansas City since the start of August, including a brace in their 4-1 triumph over Minnesota.
Erik Thommy netted goal number three of the campaign to draw even with Remi Walter for third on the team, with the other tally coming via an own goal from Loons defender Michael Boxall.
Johnny Russell, who leads Kansas City with eight goals in the regular season, is the first player in this club's history to tally at least six goals in five consecutive campaigns, Daniel Salloi is first on the team for goal contributions this year with 11 (seven goals, four assists), while John Pulskamp is the third-youngest goalkeeper in league history to post two or more clean sheets this year, behind Gabriel Slonina and Rocco Rios Novo.
Logan Ndenbe is questionable due to health and safety protocols, as is Graham Zusi, who is dealing with a quad strain.
Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda are out for the season with knee injuries, while Ozzie Cisneros and Tim Melia will be sidelined because of hamstring issues.
Fredy Montero notched the equaliser for Seattle in their 1-1 draw versus FC Cincinnati, Cristian Roldan made his first appearance in that encounter since suffering a groin injury in August, while Yeimar Gomez leads the league in interceptions (69) and is 13th when it comes to clearances (106).
Raul Ruidiaz is first on the Sounders with nine goals in this campaign, Nicolas Lodeiro has 11 assists and 51 chances created, leading them in both of those categories, and Albert Rusnak has made the most appearances for Seattle this year (30), while also playing more minutes than anyone on the team (2,455).
Kelyn Rowe will be suspended following his red card in the second half versus Cincy, Andrew Thomas and Obed Vargas are nursing lower back stress fractures, while Joao Paulo remains out with a right ACL tear.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Pulskamp; Pierre, Isimat-Mirin, Fontas, Sweat; Hernandez, Walter, Thommy; Russell, Agada, Salloi
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez, Arreaga, Tolo; C. Roldan, Rusnak, Lodeiro; Montero, Ruidiaz, Morris
We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Seattle Sounders
It sounds like a broken record at this point, but it just feels like this is finally the end of the line for the Sounders in 2022, who seem to have let the weight of expectations get to them in this MLS campaign.
On the other side, SKC have been playing much looser and with more fluidity since their postseason aspirations ended, and we expect that will help them to another home victory on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
