FC Dallas v Seattle Sounders FC
Sunday, October 16th
Toyota Stadium | Frisco, Texas
5pm Eastern
This Sunday FC Dallas begins an eight day stretch over which they will attempt to lay claim to Major League Soccer’s Supporters’ Shield. The first hurdle in the pursuit of that trophy is a weekend matchup against the Seattle Sounders at Toyota Stadium.
FC Dallas lost their grip on first place in the Western Conference Thursday night when the Colorado Rapids leap-frogged them by beating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1. The Texas club is searching for wins in the final two matches of their season. They need maximum points to give themselves the best chance possible to pick up a second major trophy this season. The US Open Cup winners enter the match in luke-warm form tallying two wins, two draws, and a loss in their last five matches. FC Dallas is healthy and well-rested, not having played a competitive match since October 1st.
The Seattle Sounders are one of the hottest teams in MLS having won four of their last five matches and possess the best record in MLS since late July when Brian Schmetzer took over as interim manager. The Sounders missed their chance to clinch a playoff berth Wednesday night when they drew 0-0 with Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field. Seattle’s Ozzie Alonso was sent off for violent conduct in that match, reducing the Sounders to ten men. The ejection means he’ll miss Sunday’s match against Dallas. Fourth place Seattle are facing somewhat of an injury crisis. They will be without Andreas Ivanschitz (knee sprain) Sunday and Alvaro Fernandez’s return is uncertain. Talisman Clint Dempsey’s season was ended early by a heart condition for which he is still seeking treatment.
Who to Watch
There will still be plenty of talent on display in this late season matchup. FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz is the linchpin of the team’s offense and has best-in-class technical ability by MLS standards. The Argentine maestro has five goals and 12 assists on the season, and will pull the strings for the Dallas attack. Max Urruti is the lead striker in Dallas’ 4-2-3-1 formation and will work tirelessly up front, pester defenders, and get on the end of service from Dallas’ talented ball-playing midfield. The Sounders will counter with US international striker and Seattle homegrown talent Jordan Morris. Morris leads the Sounders with 12 goals on the season and will look to benefit from creative play from Uruguayan Nicolás Lodeiro in midfield.
What to Expect
Dallas’ success this season has been built on a balanced team, a possession-based passing game, and timely goals. At Toyota Stadium they have only conceded more than one goal on two occasions this season. Expect them to keep things tight in the back and counter with a crisp passing game and opportunistic finishing. The Sounders will try to ride their good form past Dallas and into the playoffs, but will struggle to do so with several key players missing. They’ve adapted surprisingly well to a Dempsey-less roster. Lodeiro is now firmly in the number ten role. Seattle will try incorporate width into their attack and find Jordan Morris for the finishing touch, but may struggle to do so with key wide-men missing.
Playoff Stakes
The playoff stakes are high indeed for both teams heading into this contest. FC Dallas still has a bona fide chance to land the Supporter’s Shield if they can win out. They will need some help from leaders Colorado who now sit one point higher than Dallas with both teams having played 32 games. The Texas club will also face much stronger opposition than the Rapids. Dallas’ final match of the season sees them travel to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy on October 23rd. To complicate matters further, they also have a pivotal CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala sandwiched in between their last two matches. Colorado’s schedule has a much easier look to it, as they travel to seventh place Portland before finishing the season at last place Houston.
This Seattle Sounders team has been the comeback story of the season. They need a win in this contest to clinch a playoff berth for the eighth consecutive season. In fact, a win in either of their last two games will be enough for them to make it to the postseason. They missed a great chance to book their ticket on Wednesday. If they can’t top Dallas Sunday, they’ll return home and try to get the job done against Real Salt Lake on the last day of the regular season.
