The Seattle Sounders have not collected a point in league play for more than 100 days, perhaps the first time that has ever happened in a single MLS season. At least for the next few weeks, their chances of snapping that streak probably aren’t going to get any higher than they are tonight.

Austin FC comes into the match winless through 10 league matches on the road, the only team in MLS currently in that situation. They’re also in the midst of some rather brutal fixture congestion, playing their sixth match in 19 days with three more in the next 10.

The Sounders will, of course, be pretty short-handed themselves. Jesús Ferreira is the latest player to join the ranks of the injured, meaning they’ll be without at least six players who would optimally be expected to be starters and missing 8 of 9 players who are DPs, TAM or U22s. The Sounders can’t afford to overlook literally anyone.

Notes

For all their struggles, the Sounders are still just one point out of a playoff spot and could pull to within three points of the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with a win.
Brian Schmetzer has been stuck on 148 career MLS wins since mid-May. He is looking to become the ninth coach in MLS history to reach at least 150 wins.
Charlie Gaffney and Xavi Gnaulati will be on short-term loans from Tacoma Defiance.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola — Calf; Pedro de la Vega — Quad; Hassani Dotson — Hamstring; Jesús Ferreira — Hamstring; Yeimar Gómez Andrade — Calf; Jordan Morris — Quad; Nikola Petkovic — Knee

QUESTIONABLE: Cristian Roldan — Quad