Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Seattlevs.New England

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 July 2024, 22:59
Seattle Sounders will be looking to pick up three wins on the bounce for the first time since April 2023 when they play host to New England Revolution at Lumen Field on Saturday.

While they all ended in stalemates, the last three meetings between the two sides have seen a combined 12 goals scored, and we anticipate another action-packed contest this weekend.

Match preview

Seattle Sounders continue their surge into the top half of the Western Conference standings as they fought back from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Chicago Fire Sunday morning.

Maren Haile-Selassie broke the deadlock in the 30th minute to put Chicago Fire ahead at Lumen Field but Slovakian midfielder Albert Rusnak scored two second-half penalties to turn the game on its head.

The Sounders have now gone unbeaten in each of their last four matches, picking up three wins and one draw since they were narrowly beaten 2-1 loss against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park on June 9.

With 28 points from 21 MLS matches, Seattle Sounders are currently ninth in the Western Conference standings but could move level on points with fourth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps should they claim the win this weekend.

However, Brian Schmetzer's men go up against an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in each of their last four encounters, losing once and claiming three draws since a 3-0 victory in March 2015.

New England Revolution, on the other hand, returned to winning ways on Thursday morning when they held firm to see out a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United when the sides squared off at the Gillette Stadium.

In an action-packed contest, Albanian striker Giacomo Vrioni continued his fine form in front of goal as he scored twice in the first half to put the hosts in front before Daniel Rios pulled one back for Atlanta United with a 90th-minute strike.

Prior to that, New England Revolution saw their run of four consecutive league wins come to an end on June 30, when they suffered a humiliating 5-1 loss at home against Columbus Crew.

The Revs have won seven of their 19 MLS matches so far while losing 11 and claiming one draw to collect 22 points and sit 11th in the East, level on points with 12th-placed Montreal and just two points above rock-bottom DC United.

While Caleb Porter's side will be looking to move into the top half of the Eastern Conference table, they will have to be at their best against a Seattle Sounders side who are unbeaten in their last eight home games, claiming five wins and three draws since the start of May.

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:

D

L

W

D

W

W

New England Revolution Major League Soccer form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Team News

Seattle Sounders will take to the pitch without 24-year-old forward Braudilio Rodrigues, who has missed each of the last six matches through a hamstring injury.

With his brace against Chicago Fire last weekend, Rusnak now has nine goal involvements in his last 10 games and the 29-year-old will be one to watch this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Revs remain without several players down the spine of the team as Ema Boateng (hamstring), Carles Gil (leg), Peyton Miller (thigh) and Tomas Chancalay (knee) continue their spells on the sidelines.

Canadian midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye missed the game against Atlanta United due to a hip problem while former Valencia forward Nacho Gil is currently recuperating from a knee injury.

Vrioni has scored five goals in his last five matches and the 25-year-old will spearhead the Revs' attack once again, alongside teenager Noel Buck and Colombian winger Dylan Borrero.

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:

Frei; Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Baker-Whiting; Vargas, Paulo; Roldan, Rusnak, Chu; Morris

New England Revolution possible starting lineup:

Ivacic; Lima, Arreaga, Kessler, Jones; Polster, Harkes, Bajraktarevic; Buck, Borrero, Vrioni

We say: Seattle Sounders 2-2 New England Revolution

Seattle Sounders and New England Revolution have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling. Schmetzer's men are unbeaten in their last six home games against the Revs and we predict both sides will hold out for a share of the spoils once again.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has reportedly indicated he will take time to consider his future before he commits to a new contract. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named his starting side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has opted to use Levi Colwill as a replacement for the suspended Marc Cucurella for Sunday's Premier League game at Everton. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs.