FULL-TIME: A flat first-half evolved into a wild second half and although the Seattle Sounders equalized and actually looked to have gained control of the game, they conceded late to fall to Sporting KC 2-1 on Saturday. KC struck early with a 4th minute goal and the Sounders didn’t really look dangerous until the second half.

But after a scramble in front of goal that involved Tim Melia body-slamming Cristian Roldan, the Sounders equalized and looked prepared to take the lead. But Johnny Russell did what he does so often against the Sounders, scoring in his seventh straight game in the 79th minute.

Roldan nearly found a stoppage-time equalizer, but his shot rang off the crossbar and stayed out.

SOUNDERS 1, SPORTING KC 2: Roger Espinoza finds Johnny Russell streaking down the right wing and he slots it past Stefan Frei in the 80th minute.

SOUNDERS 1, SPORTING KC 1: Shortly after a skirmish that resulted in Tim Melia body-slamming Cristian Roldan and only getting a yellow card, the Sounders equalized off a corner kick. João Paulo put in a dangerous ball that Cristian Roldan headed toward goal and Nico Benezet finished off.

SOUNDERS 0, SPORTING KC 1: Some sloppy defending allowed SKC to jump out to a lead in the 4th minute when Remi Walter scored his first goal of the season. The chance was created when Johnny Russell came in off the wing and put in a dangerous cross. The Sounders appeared to have cleared the danger, though, but Luis Martins beat Cristian Roldan to the loose ball and set up Walter for a shot from about 19 yards out.

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The Seattle Sounders have already accomplished a lot this year. Their 58 points ranks as the third-highest total in franchise history and they’re on pace to have their best-ever goal-difference (currently +24).

Despite some rough patches, they’ve also put themselves in good position to go to a third straight MLS Cup as long as they just win their remaining home games. But that also means they need to win today against Sporting KC.

Sporting KC has had a fair amount of success at Lumen Field, winning each of their past two trips here, including one earlier this year. Sporting KC comes into this game trying to avoid their first losing streak of the year and doing so on full rest, while the Sounders just played on Wednesday.

Notes

• Sounders ended a three-game losing streak to Sporting KC in their previous meeting, a 2-1 win in Kansas City. The last time the Sounders beat Kansas City at home was Sept. 1, 2018.
• The Sounders have already clinched a Top 4 spot in the playoffs, but another win will ensure that they finish ahead of every Eastern Conference opponent other than the New England Revolution.
• Sporting KC is coming off a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. They’ve not lost consecutive games since September 2020.
• Johnny Russell has five goals in six career games against the Sounders, including goals in both games this year.
• The Sounders’ next win will be the 200th regular-season victory in franchise history.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Jordy Delem (R ACL tear); Nicolas Lodeiro (R knee surgery); Jordan Morris (L ACL tear); Raul Ruidíaz (L hamstring strain); Brad Smith (R AC joint sprain)

Sporting KC:

QUESTIONABLE: Jose Mauri (Ankle); Daniel Salloi (Ankle)

OUT: Felipe Hernandez (suspended); Jaylin Lindsey (hamstring); Alan Pulido (knee)

Officials

REF: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Rubiel Vazquez; AVAR: Rene Parra

How to Watch

Match date/time: Saturday, Oct. 23, 12:50 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Online Streaming: Amazon Prime (affiliate link, in-market), ESPN+ (affiliate link, out of market), Fubo TV (affiliate link), Twitter

Local English TV: Fox13+ (Costigan, Keller)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Costigan, Keller, Zakuani)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

National Spanish TV: TUDN (Luis Omar Tapia, Jose Luis Lopez Salido, Tony Cherchi & Daniel Schvartzman)

INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST INFORMATION

Balkans: Arena Sport

Brazil: DAZN

Czech Republic: Nova Sport

Denmark: TV2

Georgia: Silk Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain: DAZN

Greece: Nova Sport

India: Eurosport

Israel: Charlton

Latin America (excl. Brazil): ESPN Latin America

Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports

Netherlands: ESPN Netherlands

Portugal: Sport TV

Southeast Asia & Oceania: BeIN Sports

Sub-Saharan Africa: ESPN Africa

Sweden: C More

Taiwan: Sportcast

Ukraine: Football 1

United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky Sports

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting KC; watch with us

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