The Seattle Sounders host LAFC on Sunday for their second and final meeting of the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
TRAFFIC ALERT: Expect heavy traffic arriving to CenturyLink Field on Sunday, as the Mariners play at T-Mobile Park at 1:10 p.m. PT.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ESPN and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 5-1-2 (17 points, 3rd West), LAFC: 7-1-1 (22 points, 1st West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: DLWWD, LAFC: WLWWW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 0-3-0 all-time against LAFC, losing their only previous home match.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle fell 4-1 on the road in Week 8 at Banc of California Stadium. LAFC took a 2-0 lead into halftime before Harry Shipp pulled one back in the 51st minute. Carlos Vela bagged his second of the day in the 55th minute, and Christian Ramirez iced the match six minutes later.
FIXTURE CONGESTION: Sunday’s match will be Seattle’s third in eight days, and its fifth in the month of April.
INJURY CONCERNS: Raúl RuidÃaz (heel contusion) missed his fourth straight match and Will Bruin (hamstring strain) missed his second straight match. Gustav Svensson (hamstring strain) and Nouhou (ankle sprain) left Wednesday’s match injured, while VÃctor RodrÃguez exited after taking a mid-air collision.
HOLY SHIPP: Shipp came off the bench against San Jose on Wednesday and bagged the equalizer in the 2-2 draw, scoring for the second match in a row, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since the 2014 MLS regular season.
RED-HOT RIGHT BACK: Kelvin Leerdam is in the midst of his best attacking season since joining the club in 2017. He bagged his third goal of the season in Seattle’s draw with San Jose to add to his one assist. He is tied for the most goals for a defender this season in MLS.
LEAGUE-LEADERS: Seattle’s Nicolás Lodeiro picked up a pair of assists against the Earthquakes, taking his season total to six, which leads MLS. LAFC forward Carlos Vela has 10 goals, three more than anyone else in the league.
BWANA’S GOT THE SAUCE: Homegrown winger Handwalla Bwana impressed in his first start of the season on Wednesday, providing electric skill in 1-v-1 situations and testing the goalkeeper with a couple of stinging shots. With the squad playing on short rest, he might another chance to endear himself to Sounders supporters at home on Sunday.
FAMILIAR FACE: Former Sounders FC goalkeeper Tyler Miller will return to CenturyLink Field for just the second time since he joined LAFC in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft.
