Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs – Conference Semifinals
Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake
CenturyLink Field – Seattle
October 23 – 10 PM ET
TV: FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN, TVAS
It's been several years since Seattle and RSL have met in the postseason. They went head-to-head in both 2011 and 2012 with RSL advancing in 2011 and the Sounders in 2012.
RSL have a winning all-time record against Seattle in the regular season (12W-10L-4D), though Seattle have won the bulk of the matches played at CenturyLink, site of Wednesday's Conference Semi (10W-3L-3D record in regular season and playoffs combined).
Real Salt Lake thumped Seattle 3-0 at the RioT in their last meeting on August 14 behind goals from Sam Johnson, Albert Rusnak and Corey Baird. Seattle won the match at CenturyLink this year 1-0 on April 6 with Nico Lodeiro finding the back of the net.
The last five meetings between the teams at CenturyLink have been one-goal affairs with RSL coming away with just one win in 2018 on a Bofo Saucedo golazo.
- Frei: Sounders must "go for the jugular" to survive in playoffs
- Beckerman "looking to make a new memory" in Seattle with Rimando
- Quiet, but deadly: Sounders say RSL can cause them problems
- RSL vow they won't sit back in Seattle: "We'll throw our punches"
- Frei: Rimando changed the game for MLS 'keepers
- 538 projects which teams will win Conference Semis
- Seltzer: My playoff power rankings
- Chaos in the Playoffs! Extratime reacts & looks ahead
- Wiebe: LAFC need to beat the Galaxy and win MLS Cup to be best ever
Seattle Sounders FC
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Will Bruin (F) - right ACL tear
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Real Salt Lake
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Jordan Allen (M) - knee injury, out for season
- OUT: Tony Beltran (D) - knee injury
- OUT: Nick Besler (M) - foot injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Jefferson Savarino (F), Kyle Beckerman (M)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Sounders
- Sounders: 9 wins, 21 goals
- Real Salt Lake: 3 wins, 9 goals
- 2 draws
MLS Cup Playoffs
- Sounders: 2 wins, 3 goals
- Real Salt Lake: 2 wins, 3 goals
- 1 draw
Officials
- Referee: Alan Kelly
- Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Kathryn Nesbitt
- 4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez
- VAR: Jon Freemon
