The Seattle Sounders return to league-play after a two-week break while they were competing in the Club World Cup. First up is Austin FC, a team with which they are tied on points in the MLS Western Conference standings.

Austin has also been off for two weeks, having received a bye during after winning their final two games before the break.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Jonathan Bell - suspended; Yeimar Gómez Andrade - Hamstring; Stuart Hawkins - Quad; Kim Kee-hee - Calf; Nouhou - suspended

Austin FC

QUESTIONABLE: Myrto Uzuni - Hamstring

Opposition players to watch

Brandon Vazquez: Although arguably the least-deserving player to make the MLS All-Star Game, don't be lulled into thinking he's not actually dangerous. Vazquez has a history of being a goal-scoring beast both in MLS and abroad, and will be a handful especially for the depleted Sounders defense.

Owen Wolff: If the Sounders are to be successful, shutting down the young midfielder would be a good way to start. The 20-year-old is arguably Austin's best playmaker and is especially good at breaking lines on the drible.

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Stats to look smart

.79: Austin FC has just 15 goals scored this season, which equates to .79 goals per game and puts them on pace for 27 goals. If that pace were to hold, they’d finish as one of the lowest scoring teams since D.C. United set the record for scoring futility when they scored just 21 goals in 2013. Only two teams — Toronto FC and the Colorado Rapids in 2023 — failed to score at least 30 goals in the 10 full seasons since then.

1.39: Although the Sounders are averaging nearly twice as many goals than Austin, they’re still only middling in MLS and actually on pace to score fewer goals than last year. Notably, this was also around the time of the season when the Sounders picked up their scoring pace.

Tactics to impress

One of the hallmarks of a Nico Estevez team is their desire to play positionally. While that’s very effective at limiting counters, it has the side effect of not allowing for a ton of creativity. That’s been on particularly stark display this season, as Austin have been among the best defensive teams but have struggled to create scoring chances.
If the Sounders proved anything to themselves during the Club World Cup it’s that they can play their style against anyone. This year, especially, that involves a fair amount of defensive pressure. Against a team like Austin who will want to sit deep, expect the Sounders to compress the field and try to create turnovers high up the field.