Sounders vs. Sporting KC, updates: Erik Thommy gets one early

Sounders 0, Sporting KC 1: Eric Thome scored in the fourth minute, easily beating Stefan Frey from about 12 yards. The goal snapped the Sounders’ 468-minute home shutout streak dating back to last season.

lineupsThe Sounders use a familiar formation but change players in an unusual way. Jordan Morris would move back to ninth, as Heber dropped to tenth and Nicolas Lodero moved to the right. Red Baker-Whiting also enters the line-up as a right-back, with Alex Roldán moving to the left.

Sporting KC goes into Sunday’s game in a very bad place. They’ve already tied the MLS record for fewest points over 10 games (3) and if they don’t win, they’ll tie the record for longest consecutive season-opening streak.

Meanwhile, the Sounders are just one point behind the Supporters’ Shield lead (20) and lead 4-0-1 in their first five home matches.

On paper, it looks like he’s poised for a decisive win at the Sounders.

It could be a little more complicated than that. For all of Sporting KC’s struggles, they have actually looked good on the road against some of their tougher opponents. On April 22 they probably should have got a point on the road against the New England Revolution despite playing most of the second half to a man. A few weeks earlier, they also played the Philadelphia Union in a 0-0 road game.

Adding a bit of a complication is that the Sounders will be missing Joao Paulo (suspension) and Cristian Roldan (concussion protocol).

• The Sounders are attempting to win back-to-back games against Sporting KC for the first time since beating them in May 2013 and March 2014.
• The Sounders are attempting to become the first team in MLS history to record shutouts in each of the first six home games of the season. Two more posted five consecutive home shutouts to start the season.
• Jordan Morris scored four goals in the Sounders’ previous game against Sporting KC, half of their total in 2023. That’s also one more goal than Sporting KC scored all year.
• Johnny Russell has six goals in 10 matches against the Sounders. No one has scored more against the Sounders since Russell joined MLS in 2018.

seinhill

Doubtful: Nouhu (illness)

OUT: Christian Roldan (concussion protocol); Klein Rowe (left knee sprain); Raul Ruidiaz (right hamstring strain); Joao Paulo (yellow card off)

Sporting KC

Q: Graham Zusi (muscle strain). Nemanja Raduga (hamstring)

OUT: Courtney Ford (Achilles surgery); Tim Liebold (hamstring); Kayden Beer (hamstring); Willy Agada (tibialis stress fracture)

Reference: Victor Rivas AR1: not Arafa AR2: Mike Ruttersman the fourth: Jeremy Kiso Video Assistant Referee: Carol Ann Chenard AVAR: Jeff Musick

Date/kick-off time: Sunday, 1:55 PM PT

place: Lumen Field, Seattle

Global Flow of English: MLS Season Ticket (Keith Costigan & Maurice Edu)

World Streaming Spanish: MLS Season Pass (Jose Hernandez & Pablo Mariño)

English TV: Fox (Nate Bucatti and Tony Meola)

local radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle, USA iHeartMedia (Danny Jackson and Steve Zakuani)

ifcAl Spanesh radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Makeda, Tapia)

Is this game available to stream for free? Yes

Will Sounders Radio be available as an alternate feed? Yes

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

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