Match Preview - Seattle Sounders
Game Info
Kickoff: 7:40pm CT
Watch: Apple TV
Location: Q2 Stadium - Austin, TX
All-Time H2H Record
Austin FC has a record of 1W-3L-3D all-time versus Seattle.
ATX was able to secure a tough, gritty draw against Seattle at Lumen Field in one of the ugliest games I’ve ever seen from Austin FC back in March. It was arguably the most conservative game we’ve seen from the club this season and was the first chapter of our “bend but don’t break” mentality when it comes to road games in 2024.
Seattle’s Recent Form:
Well, well, well. Look who it is. After starting the season without a victory in their first five contests, Seattle has worked their way up to 7th place in the Western Conference and sits on 31 points from their 22 matches played. As of late, things have been looking very good in the Pacific Northwest, with the Sounders riding a five-game unbeaten streak in league play. While some may have panicked early on, the quality of this team was undeniable, and they have gained the form that many expected them to have to start this season.
That said, the schedule has been kind as of late for Seattle, as they got to play some of the more dismal Eastern Conference opponents in the league like the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution in this recent stretch. But you can only play the opponent that lines up in front of you, and the Sounders handled their business with two rather convincing wins. Prior to that, Seattle was the recipient of a generous gift in the form of an epic collapse by our friends in Frisco. A game in which FC Dallas was winning 2-0 after a 70th minute goal saw Seattle scream back to net three goals before the game ended. You really do love to see it.
Raúl Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris pace the Sounders with eight goals a piece, and the two veteran forwards are massive threats to Austin’s back line. Outside of the goal-scoring prowess of those two, Seattle boasts talent and quality all across the board. Their leader in goal contributions, Albert Rusnak, carves up defenses and provides excellent service to his teammates. Anchoring the defensive midfield is João Paulo, one of the top defensive mids in the league. He is usually flanked by Cristian Roldan, a former all-star and one of the most versatile players you’ll find in MLS. It’s a family affair with the Roldan’s, as brother Alex is a mainstay on the backline that is loaded with talent like Yeimar, Nouhou, and Jackson Ragen.
You’ll find the Sounders defense in the top 10 in most of the important statistical categories like goals conceded per match, clean sheets, and possession won in the defensive third. The consistency year-over-year on this Seattle roster is a big reason why they’re so cohesive defensively, able to sit back and absorb pressure in their own defensive third or employ a more aggressive pressing style when needed. As evidenced by the fact that Austin has never beaten this team at Q2 Stadium, ATX has a tall task ahead with this Seattle club coming to town.
The Sounders did have a US Open Cup game on Tuesday, July 9th, which could be beneficial to Austin. Their gaffer, Brian Schmetzer, might employ some rotation this Saturday considering Seattle has two home games coming up later in the week. Not that they’re in dire straits to find talented players to take up some rotational minutes, but we’ll take anything we can get as Verde and Black fans!
Austin’s Recent Form:
Austin has never beaten Seattle at Q2 Stadium, which provides the Verde and Black with an opportunity to check another “first” off the list this season. It’s quite difficult to use the first matchup as any sort of indicator as to how this game may go. Austin was without Sebastián Driussi, was starting Žan Komanič at the time, and had yet to unleash some of the now mainstay defensive options in Brendan Hines-Ike and Guilherme Biro. Our team looks much different now.
More good news came last week, as Dani Pereira was able to serve his yellow card accumulation suspension during Austin’s victory over NYCFC. With Costa Rica bowing out of the Copa America as well, Julio Cascante is back, and Austin is nearly out of the woods regarding the incredibly challenging depth issues the team faced throughout the month of June with those two away from the team. Furthermore, Diego Rubio is back from his suspension and will be available, adding another quality player into our rotation.
I’m very encouraged with the performance Austin gave last week versus NYCFC and feel really great about the fact that this team looks drastically different in possession when Dani plays. He should be well rested, as he did not see any time in his Copa America stint, so I’m assuming he’ll be a full go and eager to get out there and play. With that being said, this Seattle team is more talented across the board, and Austin will need more than just Pereira to play well to have a chance this Saturday.
For some time now, I’ve been calling for Sebastián Driussi to uncork a few shots from distance. I think that trying to keep opposing defenses honest with a few warning shots from outside the penalty area will pay dividends over time, even if it doesn’t result in a screamer from long range that beats Seattle keeper Stefan Frei. Austin likes to get wide in their attack and send crosses into the mixer when we’re in the attacking third. If Seba can continue to unleash shots from the middle of the field outside the 18-yard box, then defenses will need to adjust. If they suck in to account for our talisman midfielder shooting, then we open up more avenues to get out wide. If defenses choose to stay tight to Obrian and whoever flanks him on the opposite wing, then Driussi should be able to put some threatening shots on frame. Sounds like a win-win to me. After we saw not one but two shots from deep in the matchup against NYCFC, I’m giddy at the idea of Seba doing this on a more consistent basis, especially as new designated player Osman Bukari works his way into the squad.
I believe the success of this team will hinge on their ability to withstand the periods of high press from Seattle, and with Dani back, I like our chances of being able to accomplish that much more. He’s the great connector and our one-man release valve that can break lines with his speed. I hope to see that on full display come Saturday. If the Sounders come out more conservative on defense and allow Austin to possess the ball, then having Pereira in spots where Jhojan Valencia has been over the last few weeks makes ATX that much more threatening.
Injury Report:
ATX - None
SEA - Braudilio Rodrigues (Out - Hamstring), Raúl Ruidíaz (Questionable - Leg)
Seattle Players to Watch:
Pedro De La Vega - As ZG hinted at in Episode 158, it’s possible that De La Vega is gearing up for his first start since the Week 2 match against Austin. While his season has been derailed by injuries, the talent is certainly there. The young Argentine will be a player that Austin needs to keep in check no matter when he shows up on the pitch this Satuday.
Raúl Ruidíaz - For me, Ruidiaz is the scariest player in the league. I said what I said. While he is surely on the backside of his career, he’s been a world-class talent in MLS for a long time and the man has an unrelenting motor and zero fear. Unleashing shots from distance and chirping at keepers are some of my favorite things about Ruidiaz – I just prefer to admire it from afar. He doesn’t need much time or space to score goals, as can be seen by his 101 career MLS goal contributions in just 148 regular season and playoff matches with the Sounders. He is one of the more diminutive players in the league, so physicality with him is a must. He and a guy like Alex Ring converging in the midfield? Sounds spicy.
Austin’s Keys to the Game:
Decipher, Adapt, Adjust - I anticipate Seattle to ratchet up their high press a bit more against Austin. It’s been a poorly kept secret for a long time now that Austin does not handle the “heat” of a high press well, so I expect the Sounders’ coaching staff to call for a bit more of an aggressive approach on that end. Maybe I end up wrong there, in which case the team needs to decipher what Seattle is trying to do and adapt to that approach. Again, Dani being back will be our saving grace against a high press and I have total faith in his abilities to be the key to breaking it.
Seba The Shooter - Seattle has a large backline with a ton of athleticism. This makes winning aerial duels against the Sounders quite challenging. I want Seba to continue to lean into his willingness to be a bit more selfish and provide some shots from distance that draw the attention of Seattle’s back four. If they adapt and begin to respect Driussi’s gravity, we can create space out wide. If they don’t respect his power, then make ‘em learn the hard way!
Predictions:
E - 3-1 Austin FC
ZG - 2-1 Austin FC
