FC Dallas wraps up the month of April tonight with a big road match at Seattle.
Just like we’ve done in previous seasons, to help preview the upcoming game for FC Dallas, we have asked those who cover the other side the closest for help. Today, we talk about the Seattle Sounders with someone who knows them the best, Jeremiah Oshan from Sounder at Heart.
You can also read my responses to their questions here:
Jeremiah Oshan
Injury report
Cristian Roldan (concussion) and Paul Arriola (adductor) have both been ruled out for this match, while Albert Rusnák (hamstring) is considered questionable. Notably, Rusnák did not fully train at all this week so at most he would be coming off the bench. Those absences are in addition to the longer-standing injuries to Yeimar and Pedro de la Vega. D
Recent Form
The Sounders are off to their second-best start in franchise history, collecting 16 points in their first seven matches. They’ve done this despite playing five of those matches on the road, going 3–1–1 in those games. The defense has been particularly good, having allowed just three goals all year and posting five shutouts. They just had a 495-minute shutout streak snapped when St. Louis scored an otherwise meaningless goal in second-half stoppage game of the previous match. The offense hasn’t exactly been lighting things up but they have scored 11 matches in the four games they’ve played at home across all competetions.
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Projected Starting Lineup/Formation
Thomas; Nouhou, Ragen, Roldan, Kossa-Rienzi; Dotson, Brunell; Rothrock, Ferreira, Morris; Musovski
Projected Starting XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1Key players to watch out for
With Rusnák likely out, Jesús Ferreira appears likely to get the start at the No. 10. He hasn’t scored a goal yet this year, but he is tied for fourth in MLS with five assists. That continues a trend that goes back to last year where he’s been more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer. But in recent games he seems to be be getting himself into more shooting positions, firing off five shots after having just three in his previous nine appearances.
What is one thing Seattle does better than anyone else in MLS?
The Sounders have not historically been a team that starts the season strong, but they’ve turned narrative on its head this year. The Sounders have so far played one of the toughest schedules in MLS and are the only team in the league to have beaten both the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps (twice in Concacaf Champions Cup). They aren’t putting up the eye-popping numbers of some of the other top teams in the West but this looks like a good team, even if their underlying numbers don’t look all that impressive.
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