FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders | 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs Match Preview

Steve Brisendine

FC Dallas vs.Seattle Sounders
2016 Western Conference Semifinal – Leg 2
Toyota Stadium | Frisco, Texas
Sunday, Nov. 6
9 pm ET (FS1, FOX Deportes, FOXSportsGO in the US | TSN2 in Canada)

The Lowdown:

FC Dallas have 90 minutes – maybe 120, but that would still require a lot of catching up – to keep their hopes for MLS' first domestic treble alive, The Supporters' Shield and Lamar Hunt US Open Cup winners are in a 3-0 hole in the two-legged series, after Sunday's stunner in Seattle.

If they can't, then the Sounders – a club left for dead in July, when they parted ways with longtime manager Sigi Schmid and were floundering near the bottom of the Western Conference table -- get to write another chapter in their unlikely second-half comeback story.

Must-Read:

FC Dallas Snapshot:

2016 Regular Season Finish: West No. 1 seed (17-8-9 record, 60 points, 5-7-5 away record)
Current Form: W-W-D-D-L
Strengths: Have won two titles already this year; Show resilience to come back at big moments if they are down; Rely on balanced contributions on both sides of the ball.
Weaknesses: Do not have a healthy star player in attack at a time when they need goals by the bunches.
Injuries/Suspensions: Zach Loyd (concussion) -- out; Mauro Diaz (Achilles) – out; Kellyn Acosta (hip) – questionable
Player to Watch:Maxi Urruti. He won the 2015 MLS Cup title with Portland, so the striker knows what to do in big situations. If he bags one early, that would give FC Dallas a huge boost.
Probable Starting XI: Chris Seitz; Atiba Harris, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa; Michael Barrios, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo, Ryan Hollingshead; Tesho Akindele, Maxi Urruti

Seattle Sounders Snapshot:

2016 Regular Season Finish: West No. 4 seed (14-14-6 record, 48 points, 10-5-2 home record)
Current Form: L-D-W-W-W
Strengths: Nicolas Lodeiro is a monster attacking force, and has been a huge reason for Seattle's late-season surge. Nelson Valdez is catching fire. Jordan Morris is a threat on the front line -- both inside and on the wing -- and Stefan Frei has two clean sheets in as many playoff matches.
Weaknesses: In all honesty, it's kind of hard to spot any at this point -- beyond d-mid Osvaldo Alonso's propensity to throw himself into tackles. If he sees two yellows or a red, especially early on, that could pose serious problems.
Injuries/Suspensions: Clint Dempsey (heart) -- out; Andreas Ivanschitz (knee) -- out; Alvaro Fernandez (hamstring) -- out; Dylan Remick (concussion) -- unknown; Roman Torres (hamstring) -- questionable
Player to Watch:Nicolas Lodeiro. He can make plays or finish them, as he showed with a brace on Sunday in the first leg at Seattle. The Uruguayan is a difference-maker, and Dallas didn't have an answer for him last time out.
Probable Starting XI: Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Roman Torres, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan; Brad Evans, Nicolas Lodeiro, Erik Friberg; Jordan Morris

Match Essentials:

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Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Johnson (AR1), Adam Garner (AR2)
4th Official: Juan Guzman

Seattle vs. Dallas Head-to-Head
All-Time (21 meetings):
Dallas 5 wins, 22 goals • Seattle 13 wins, 38 goals • Ties 5
All-Time Playoff Meetings:
Seattle leads 2-1-2
All-Time in Dallas (15 meetings):
Dallas 5 wins, 19 goals • Seattle 4 wins, 16 goals • Ties 6
2016 Meetings (4 meetings):
DAL 2, SEA 0 (May 14); SEA 5, DAL 0 (July 13); DAL 2, SEA 1 (Oct. 16); SEA 3, DAL 0 (Oct. 30)