The Seattle Sounders will have a bit of an early kickoff when they travel to play Sporting KC on Saturday at 11:30 AM Seattle time. Sporting KC is currently on a six-game losing streak, which includes a 3–0 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the U.S. Open Cup. The Sounders haven’t lost a league game since Feb. 28 and are off to a franchise-record tying 6–1–1 start in league play.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Yeimar Gomez Andrade — Hamstring; Pedro de la Vega — Knee; Nikola Petković Knee

QUESTIONABLE: Kim Kee-hee — Calf; Ryan Sailor — Knee

Kansas City

OUT: Kwaku Agyabeng — Groin; Diego Borges — Groin; Justin Reynolds — Hamstring

QUESTIONABLE: Zorhan Bassong — Hamstring

Enjoying this content?

Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox everyday.

Subscribe

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Opposition players to watch

Dejan Joveljić : The striker is easily Sporting's most competent and dangerous attacker. A year ago, he scored 18 goals for a very bad team. This year, he has 4 of KC's 7 goals. While he’s not exactly a one-man wrecking crew, he must be accounted for.

Manu Garcia : To the degree that KC has creative players, the 28-year-old Spaniard is the main force. A year ago, he had two goals and seven assists, the only player on the team with more than four assists. He gave the Sounders some problems last year, too.

Stats to look smart

403 – The Sounders last gave up a road goal in league play on Feb. 28 and have now gone 403 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal on the road.

5.5 – Sporting KC is last in the league with just seven goals scored, but they are actually over-performing their xG which suggests they should only have 5.5 (which is also worst in the league).

Tactics to impress

• The Sounders seem to have reconsidered some of their more aggressive pressing tactics and have been far more targeted in how they apply pressure. They may reconsider that against Sporting KC, a team that has struggled to put opponents under any sort of sustained pressure.
• Identifying a coherent plan in Sporting KC's style is a little hard to ascertain, but they do seem to want to build through the flanks and hit long switches. If the Sounders can cut those out, they could find some joy on the counter.

Kit matchup

Standings

Other reading

On the mend: Sounders looking much healthierCristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák and Paul Arriola all removed from injury list.Sounder at HeartTim Ostlund-FossPanic Ratings: What, me worry?Best start ever and reasons for optimism break through injury and cup-woe-induced panicSounder at HeartSam FromowitzJordan Morris no longer worried about what position he playsMorris admits that rehabbing from various injuries over the past year had caused him to ‘lose some love’ for the game and that he’s now happy just to play.Sounder at HeartJeremiah OshanSounders’ guarding against ‘trap game’ potentialSporting KC has been the league’s worst team through the first couple months.Sounder at HeartJeremiah OshanSnyder Brunell has been one MLS’s top youngsters, so farA data-driven look at the Sounders and Major League Soccer.Sounder at HeartJake Burgess

More listening

|

What We Learned This Week: The Sounders are getting somewhat healthier and the Orca Boys travel to SKC match preview

Listen to the episode: Click here | Available on:

This player is still in beta, there may be some bugs.

What We Learned This Week: The Sounders are getting somewhat healthier and the Orca Boys travel to SKC match preview

Available on: __________