The Seattle Sounders visit Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in the first meeting between the two sides of the 2020 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know, presented by WaFd Bank.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on Q13 FOX and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2020 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 4-1-2 (14 points, 2nd West), RSL: 2-1-4 (10 points, 5th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWLWL, Salt Lake: DWLLD
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 10-12-4 all-time against Real Salt Lake, including a 1-9-2 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle faced off against RSL in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals. Coming off an emotionally draining 4-3 win over FC Dallas in Round One, the Sounders put on a counter-attacking masterclass against a Salt Lake side in the midst of a rich vein of form. Former RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando kept the Sounders attack at bay for as long as he could in his final professional match, producing a string of world-class saves to keep the match scoreless. Undaunted by his individual heroics, Seattle eventually broke through and secured a 2-0 win courtesy of a Gustav Svennson header in the 64th minute and a Nicolás Lodeiro golazo in the 81st minute.
SOUNDERS KEEP ROLLING: The Sounders have rattled off two massive victories against Western Conference rivals since the regular season resumed in August, notching a 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park and a 3-1 win against LAFC at CenturyLink Field on Sunday.
PRIME VIDEO: Wednesday’s match marks the first occasion in which supporters can watch the match on Prime Video, the official video streaming partner of Sounders FC. All regionally televised matches are available to stream in Prime Video for every resident in the state of Washington.
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE: Sounders striker Raúl RuidÃaz has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week for his ridiculous long-range strike against LAFC. You can vote for him HERE.
MOVING ON UP: On the back of Seattle’s last two wins, the Rave Green sit in second place in the Western Conference, just two points shy of Sporting Kansas City in first. A win on Wednesday coupled with an SKC loss or draw against FC Dallas would see the Sounders vault into the top spot in the West.
BRUIN MILESTONE: If Sounders striker Will Bruin, who has been electric since his return from a year-long injury layoff, scores against RSL, it will be his 80th MLS goal during his illustrious career.
TAKE IT TO THEM: RSL’s back line has faced some struggles in recent matches. One of the most vaunted back lines for much of last season, the Utah side has struggled to contain opposing attacks this year, conceding 12 goals across their last four matches across all competitions.
