Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria

Seattlevs.Salt Lake

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 May 2024, 16:51
Seattle Sounders, currently in ninth place, are poised to face the high-flying Real Salt Lake, who currently lead the Western Conference standings, at CenturyLink Field in Major League Soccer.

The hosts lost the reverse fixture between these two sides earlier in the season, leaving them out for revenge when they match up on Thursday morning.

Match preview

Seattle have had a fantastic time since joining MLS as the league's 15th team in 2009, only dropping outside of the top four of the Western Conference on one occasion and claiming MLS Cup victories in 2016 and 2019.

2022 saw them fail to finish in the MLS Cup playoff positions for the first time in their history as they dropped to 11th place after finishing as runners-up in the Western Conference in each of the five seasons prior.

They bounced back in terrific fashion last year though as they reclaimed second place in the conference, placing seventh across the entire MLS, ultimately being knocked out by eventual runners-up Los Angeles FC in the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup.

This season they have failed to reach the heights they have previously achieved as Brian Schmetzer's men occupy the final playoff position, just a point above Portland Timbers and St Louis City, who hold a game in hand over the Sounders.

The Rave Green failed to win any of their opening five matches and only managed one victory in their first nine, but a recent improvement has seen them start to climb the rankings.

They kicked off the run with a 3-2 victory against Philadelphia Union and have since lost just one of the following eight games, with that coincidentally coming against Thursday's opponents.

Most recently Seattle have beaten Phoenix Rising in the US Open Cup as they hunt for a record fifth triumph, and also secured a 2-1 victory against St Louis, leaving them in good form ahead of this one.

Salt Lake will provide a completely different challenge to what they faced in their last two games, currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference and third in the MLS rankings.

The visitors have not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat to Colorado Rapids in March, leaving them unbeaten in their last 11 MLS games with seven of those being victories.

Salt Lake will be confident that their brilliant run of results will help them get over the line with a win against Seattle for the third consecutive time across all competitions, while they have not been beaten by the Green Rave in any of their last three meetings.

While Pablo Mastroeni's men have been largely impressive so far this term, no victories in any of their last three matches on the road may be a slight worry for the coach ahead of this one.

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:

W

D

W

L

D

W

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:

W

W

D

W

W

D

Team News

The home side are carrying a whole host of injuries heading into this game, leaving them unable to call upon the services of up to seven players.

Braudilio Rodrigues, Jon Bell, Joshua Atencio and Pedro De la Vega are all expected to be out until next month with hamstring injuries.

Leo Chu and Nathan are also expected to return at some point in June, while Nathan Cardoso's return date is unknown.

The hosts are not without their own injury concerns after seven of their own missed out on the 3-3 draw with FC Dallas last time out.

Bode Hidalgo and Zavier Gozo are both unlikely to return to the squad for this game but their return from injury is imminent.

Kevin Bonilla, Zack Farnsworth, Erik Holt, Pablo Ruiz and Marcelo Silva are all expected to remain on the treatment table.

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:

Frei; A Roldan, Andrade, Ragen, Baker; C Roldan, Paulo; Vargas, Rusnak, Morris; Ruidiaz

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:

MacMath; Brody, Glad, Quinton, Katranis; Ojeda, Eneli; Gomez, Crooks, Luna; Arango

We say: Seattle Sounders 1-1 Real Salt Lake

Seattle have drawn four times in the league when playing at home this season, the second most of any team in the MLS, and with Salt Lake drawing four times on the road this year, we expect this one to end all square.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

19 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest football news as we head into the international break. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vietnam vs. Cambodia (Wednesday, 12.30pm) Vietnam and Cambodia are set to face off at the Go Dau Stadium on Wednesday afternoon in an international friendly match. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday, Ukraine will lock horns with Belgium in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff clash in Murcia. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark play host to Portugal at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia welcome France to Stadion Poljud in Split for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands welcome UEFA Nations League holders Spain to De Kuip in Rotterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen has labelled it "an honour" to be linked with a move to a club of the stature of Real Madrid. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have been prone to being physically outmatched by their opponents at times this season and additions to address that would be welcomed, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At the ripe old age of 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is in contention to make his 218th international appearance for Portugal when they take on Denmark at Parken Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has named his 26-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Denmark at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark welcome Portugal to Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has dropped a hint on where Virgil van Dijk could move if he departs Liverpool this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will welcome Hungary to Istanbul for Thursday's first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoffs against Hungary. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk France head coach Didier Deschamps will have to cope without Marcus Thuram when Les Bleus travel to Stadion Poljud to face Croatia in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A repeat of the 2018 World Cup final takes centre stage at Stadion Poljud in Split on Thursday night as Croatia play host to France in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have confirmed that midfielder Marc Casado will miss the next two months after suffering a knee injury in the 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The Republic of Ireland travel to Stadion Hristo Botev on Thursday to take on Bulgaria in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League clash, and the visitors will hope to avoid relegation to League C. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool could be set for a summer of upheaval as three of their key players' futures remain up in the air. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League up for grabs, Slovakia will host Slovenia in the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday at Stadion Tehelne pole. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany hopes that Phil Foden can play himself back into form under new England head coach Thomas Tuchel having previously endured 'poor stints' at international level. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Omari Kellyman has confirmed his season is over following his latest injury setback. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in four Bundesliga stars ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands.