As part of our countdown to MLS opening weekend, we're taking a look at each Week 1 match. On Wednesday, we break down the storylines around the Seattle Sounders-FC Cincinnati match on March 2 (10 pm ET | FS1, Fox Deportes, MLS Live on DAZN in Canada) .
It's a familiar position for the Seattle Sounders to start 2019: Home to an expansion side playing their first MLS match.
Last year, the Sounders welcomed LAFC, who memorably went to CenturyLink Field and won 1-0. This year, FC Cincinnati come to town looking for a similar result.
Here are three things to watch as FC Cincy face the Sounders:
Cincy's tactics and chance creation
Based on preseason lineups, it looks like FC Cincinnati will be situated in a 3-4-3 that'll probably look more like a 5-4-1 against the Sounders with Seattle expecting to hold more possession.
It'll be fun to watch how it plays out for the first time in a competitive match. What will it look like? Will Fanendo Adi island truly be isolated and how will the chances be created? How dominant can they be on set pieces with Adi, Kendall Waston, Nick Hagglund and Forrest Lasso on the squad?
Adi lent his voice to those questions.
“I have a lot of concerns. I want to score goals, and I need every support I can get in order to do that,” Adi said. “When you’re a center forward and you don’t score goals, you get worried about the whole situation. But this is something that the coaches are working on. We still believe that the club can bring in a No. 10 for us, someone that is very experienced and can push us (forward).”
Seattle looking for a better start to 2019
The joke has become cliche that the Sounders are slow starters, typified by their historic second-half surge last season leading the club all the way to second place in the Western Conference. It was similar in previous years, too, as the club tend to round into form as the season grows. Obviously, the slow starts aren't by design.
Unlike past years with Nicolas Lodeiro (2016), Victor Rodriguez (2017) and Raul Ruidiaz (2018) all being signed in the summer, the Sounders have their core in place by preseason. The club will expect for a much faster start to the season.
Jordan Morris is back as well, looking to make up for lost time having missed the entirety of 2018.
Who starts in the midfield for Cincy?
Much has been made of FC Cincy's predilection for defensive midfielders, but they have collected a fine bunch of talent. Now, who gets the opening day nod?
Between Leonardo Bertone, Allan Cruz, Victor Ulloa, Caleb Stanko, Fatai Alashe and Eric Alexander, only two will start if they do indeed opt for a 3-4-3 to begin the season.
