Preview: Can Sporting Kansas City end losing streak against Seattle Sounders?

Sporting Kansas City will aim to end their six-match losing streak in all competitions against the Seattle Sounders in MLS Week 10. Raphael Wicky’s team will host the Sounders at Sporting Park, hoping a return home can help turn around the club’s fortunes.

The Wizards are bottom of the MLS overall standings with a mere four points from nine games this season. Sporting Kansas City’s defense has been routinely torn apart, conceding 25 times. As it stands, Sporting are on pace to set a new MLS record for the most goals allowed in a single season.

The Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, sit fourth in the Western Conference with 19 points from 24 on offer. Brian Schmetzer’s side are eight points behind Western Conference leaders the San Jose Earthquakes, but have two games in hand.

Seattle head into Saturday’s match in Kansas City on a three-match winning streak. That run has seen the Sounders claim a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo, a 4-1 victory over St. Louis City, and a 2-1 win against FC Dallas.

Seattle Sounders by the numbers

The Sounders have been brilliant defensively this season, conceding a mere four goals in eight MLS games. Seattle are arguably the best-run MLS club, producing a competitive squad each season capable of fighting for the MLS Cup or the Supporters’ Shield. It is something Sporting Kansas City need to copy.

Seattle have scored 12 goals, with Cristian Roldan and Paul Rothrock netting three each. While Roldan and Rothrock have been excellent in front of goal, Albert Rusnak has been the Sounders’ best attacking player.

The designated player has scored two goals and added three assists. Rusnak has accounted for 42% of Seattle’s goals this season.

Attacking midfielder Jesus Ferreira may be the most in-form player Schmetzer has in the squad. The former FC Dallas man has scored one goal and supplied four assists. Ferreira tallied an assist against St. Louis and a goal versus FC Dallas in Seattle’s two most recent wins. Ferreira will be the man Sporting KC need to stop on Saturday.

Seattle Sounders formation

Schmetzer favors a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two holding midfielders protecting the back four. The setup has given Seattle’s attacking midfielders, whether it is Ferreira or Rusnak, the freedom to create goals.

Designated player Jordan Morris has been deployed on the right wing, while the left side has been occupied by Rothrock. Danny Musovski has been Schmetzer’s preferred striker of late, although the Sounders have not received a lot of production from the No. 9 position. Musovski has yet to score or assist in MLS this season.

Rather than goals coming from the Sounders’ striker, they have come from the wide players and attacking midfielders. Even more telling, Roldan leads the team in scoring from center-back.

Sporting KC vs. Seattle Sounders H2H

Sporting KC have lost their last three MLS matches against Seattle. The Sounders won by a combined score of 10-4 across those games. Six of the last 10 meetings between these clubs have ended in Seattle victories.

Seven of the last 10 matches saw both teams score, and just one of the last 10 fixtures between Sporting and Seattle ended with fewer than 1.5 goals. Last season, Seattle claimed a 5-2 home win and a 3-2 victory at Sporting Park.

Schmetzer has coached against Sporting KC 18 times in his head coaching career, posting nine wins, one draw, and eight defeats. Sporting Kansas City head coach Raphael Wicky has faced Schmetzer and the Sounders twice previously, recording one win and one defeat while manager of the Chicago Fire. Seattle have edged the all-time series between these clubs with 15 wins, four draws, and 12 losses.

Sporting Kansas City have not won at home this season. Can they end a six-game losing streak in all competitions? Based on the form of both teams, it will be an uphill battle for Sporting to claim points.

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