Match Preview: Seattle Sounders at Sporting Kansas City

The Seattle Sounders head out on the street for what might be the final time in 2022, heading to face Sporting Kansas Metropolis on Sunday in a recreation that they completely must win if there’s any likelihood of them moving into the playoffs. The Sounders have been in digital must-win territory for some time now, however this 2 PM PST kickoff is the primary literal must-win as something much less leaves them with an excessive amount of room to make up with solely three extra factors obtainable and 5 factors between themselves and the playoff line.

With no room for failure, it’s onerous to think about a worse place for Seattle to must journey to for this recreation. From a historic perspective — nonetheless a lot that’s value — though the Sounders received the final time these two sides confronted in addition to the final time they performed at Youngsters’s Mercy Park, that win final 12 months was the primary win on the street towards SKC since 2013. In truth, after having dominated the early stretch of this matchup after getting into MLS — Seattle misplaced the primary common season assembly with Kansas Metropolis, then went 10 video games and nearly 6 years with out dropping a daily season recreation to them together with profitable 6 straight from 2009 to 2011 — Seattle are actually 4-8-3, -5 of their final 15 common season conferences with SKC.

this 12 months specifically, the 2 sides have had oddly mirrored seasons. By the primary half of the season, SKC’s struggles had been very a lot on show as they went 3-9-4, -13 in league play. On the similar time, Seattle was profitable CCL and had a decent 8-7-2, +7 report.

The 15 video games which have adopted have been a drastically completely different story for each side. The wheels have largely fallen off for Seattle, who’ve gone 4-9-2, -5 and solely had consecutive wins as soon as in that point, whereas SKC have gone 6-6-3, +1 — though they haven’t misplaced in 6 video games and are 5-2-2, +9 since getting knocked out of the US Open Cup within the Semi-Finals again on the finish of July.

Since 2009, Peter Vermes has had his Kansas Metropolis groups in what’s a reasonably recognizable fashion, the “Sporting Approach.” What all that fashion entails has modified through the years, however by and huge you’ll be able to depend on Vermes’s groups to play in a 4-3-3, worth possession, and attempt to make life hell for the opposite group after they lose possession. Previously, there’s been an emphasis on onerous working, athleticism, and urgent, however that’s typically include a noticeable decline in performances because the season progresses, so SKC have began to maneuver away from that emphasis. In 2022 SKC makes an attempt 128.2 pressures/90 minutes to Seattle’s 126.5 pressures/90, and common about 60 fewer touches per recreation with 577.6/90 minutes in comparison with Seattle’s 638.4/90.

Throughout the early first two-thirds of the season, when the group struggled, it felt clear why: Alan Pulido, the group’s star striker, hasn’t performed a single minute and key components of their midfield are gone or unavailable as Ilie Sanchez left on a free through the offseason to affix LAFC and has been taking part in like among the finest midfielders within the league, whereas Designated Participant Gadi Kinda has additionally missed the entire season after having to have the cartilage in his proper knee repaired in April.

With these absences, the midfield struggled and the assault withered on the vine. SKC hasn’t precisely had a protracted line of elite strikers, however the choices behind Pulido have been under the standard degree. The performances of Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell, SKC’s first-choice wingers who each drew a little bit of MVP chatter in 2021, are emblematic of the group’s attacking struggles. In 2021 Russell had 15 targets and eight assists in 2221 MLS minutes, and Salloi put up 16 and eight in 2453 MLS minutes. This season Russell’s received 8 targets and 1 help, whereas Sally’s managed 7 and 4. As we famous earlier, although, issues have been higher just lately. Within the 9 video games which have encompassed their vital flip of type, Salloi has recorded 3 of his 7 targets and three of his 4 assists, highlighting his early season struggles.

Seattle CBs vs. William Agada

A serious a part of the improved offensive output – and in consequence, improved outcomes – for SKC has been Summer time signing William Agada, a 23 year-old striker signed from Hapoel Jerusalem. In simply 738 MLS minutes, Agama’s sensible runs, spectacular acceleration and scientific ending have allowed him to build up 7 targets and a couple of assists. No matter who Brian Schmetzer begins at centerback, Agada goes to provide them matches as they work to trace his runs and restrict his hazard contained in the penalty space the place all 7 of his targets have been scored from.

The place does the sport get performed?

In a really perfect world, each of those groups need to possess the ball, and use that possession to create alternatives to get in behind the protection for his or her attackers. Usually when the Sounders play effectively the midfielders stack up touches, typically reaching into triple-digits for the likes of Nico Lodeiro. Albert Rusnák, Josh Atencio and Danny Leyva are not any strangers to touching the ball 70-80+ instances in a recreation, both, however when an opponent limits the Sounders midfield the ball strikes out to the fullbacks or wingbacks, relying on formation. In opposition to SKC and the midfield trio of Roger Espinoza, Winter signing Erik Thommy and Remy Walter, the Sounders could choose to play via the wings and/or over the protection, whereas Atencio and Leyva – or whoever performs in that midfield pair – are primarily tasked with forcing SKC out of the center.

Objectives, please?

SKC have definitely tightened issues up in current weeks, maintaining 3 clear sheets of their final 5 video games, however each side concerned on Sunday are able to giving up targets. SKC are 1-12-2 in common season video games after they’ve given up a number of targets. Seattle are a not-too-dissimilar 1-10-2 when giving up a number of targets in MLS this 12 months. It appears doubtless that if both facet can seize a pair targets, they’ll most likely take all three factors.

Seattle and SKC kick off at Youngsters’s Mercy Park at 2:25 PM PST. The match can be on FS1 and FOX Deportes.