The Seattle Sounders are hosting Austin FC on Saturday in their 2024 MLS home-opener. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS)
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
HOW TO LISTEN: The match will air on 93.3 KJR FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 0-1-0 (0 points, 11th West), Austin: 0-1-0 (0 points, 12th West)
OPENING MATCHDAY RESULT: The Sounders fell 2-1 to LAFC in Los Angeles, while Austin lost 2-1 at home to Minnesota United.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders defeated Austin FC 2-1 at Q2 Stadium on Aug. 30, 2023. Jordan Morris and Sebastián Driussi traded second-half goals before Albert Rusnák scored the match-winner in the 90th minute.
Honoring Ozzie Alonso
Join us as we celebrate the legendary Sounders career of Ozzie Alonso at our home opener on Saturday, March 2. Fans can meet Alonso pre-match, and there will be an on-field ceremony honoring the club legend.
HONORING OZZIE: Sounders legend Ozzie Alonso signed a one-day contract on Thursday to officially retire with the club. He will be honored on Saturday night at Lumen Field during pre-match and halftime of the home opener.
DE LA VEGA OFF AND RUNNING: New Young Designated Player Pedro de la Vega hit the ground running in his Sounders debut last week. After coming on as a second-half substitute, the 23-year-old Argentine youth international stepped up to the penalty spot and recorded his first MLS goal just eight minutes into his first appearance.
CAPTAIN CRISTIAN: The Sounders turned over a new leaf last week, playing their first match without the service of longtime captain and club legend Nicolás Lodeiro since 2016. With goalkeeper Stefan Frei sidelined with a hamstring injury, veteran Cristian Roldan donned the captain’s armband.
CENTURION RUIDÍAZ: Forward Raúl Ruidíaz recorded his 100th regular-season start of his Sounders career last week. The 33-year-old Peruvian has 64 goals and 12 assists in 116 total regular-season matches since arriving in Seattle in 2018.
FORMATION SHIFT: With Rusnák a late scratch with an ankle injury, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer opted for a 4-4-2 formation against LAFC as opposed to his normal 4-2-3-1. Morris and Ruidíaz started up front, with Roldan, Obed Vargas, Josh Atencio and Léo Chú playing in the midfield.
CLEVELAND RETURNS: Former Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland will return to Seattle for the first time since signing with Austin FC this past offseason. He spent four seasons with the Sounders, recording four clean sheets in 24 appearances.
DRIUSSI QUESTION MARK: Driussi was questionable coming into last weekend with right hamstring irritation and didn’t make the matchday roster. The Argentine No. 10 is one of the most electric players in MLS with 38 goals and 17 assists in 79 career games and would be a massive loss if he isn’t able to make the trip to Seattle.
TROUBLE IN TEXAS: Austin FC was the only home team to lose its opening match last weekend, and the Black and Verde were outworked 2.6 to 1 in Expected Goals and 19 to 6 in total shots. They’re coming off a season in which they allowed 55 goals, the fourth-most in MLS.
