Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas
MLS Regular Season
Wednesday, September 24; 6 pm PT; Toyota Stadium
TV/Radio: JOEtv (KZJO-Channel 22/Cable 10); KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
Sounders FC will square off with FC Dallas for the third and final time in the 2014 MLS regular season on Wednesday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Seattle won the first two matches. Here are three key matchups for the Sounders if they hope to make it a clean sweep.
Clint Dempsey vs. Matt Hedges
Dempsey has had his way with FC Dallas this season, scoring two goals and making the pass that led to an own goal in the first of two matches between the clubs. In those two contests, he totaled eight shots with five on goal. He will have Hedges to deal with on Wednesday, and the more the Sounders can get the ball to Dempsey’s feet rather than forcing him into aerial challenges with the 6-foot-4 center back, the more success they will find.
Seattle’s defense vs. Mental fatigue
The first time Seattle played at Toyota Stadium this season, it was two defensive lapses that put the Sounders in a 2-1 hole before halftime. On Saturday against the New York Red Bulls, there were a series of miscues that left Seattle with a 4-1 defeat. When Seattle’s defense is on, it’s among the best in the league, and goalkeeper Stefan Frei has eight clean sheets to prove it. However, Dallas has baited Seattle into penalties in both prior matches, something that could prove costly if Michel steps to the spot. The Brazilian converted on each of those two penalty kicks.
Fabian Castillo and Tesho Akindele vs. Seattle’s outside backs
Castillo and Akindele have plenty of speed and have used those bursts up the wing to combine for 16 goals and seven assists. Both are just 22 but have already displayed the ability to do great things when opponents don’t handle their speed well. DeAndre Yedlin and Leo Gonzalez have certainly done so in the past and doing it again could help the Sounders separate themselves from the rest of the Western Conference in a key match on their schedule.
