Seattle Sounders FC vs. DC United | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Seattle Sounders FC vs. D.C. United
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 15
CenturyLink Field - Seattle
June 9 – 10 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

With a win and a draw in their last two road games, D.C. United is feeling confident as they head into the final stretch before the long-awaited opening of Audi Field on July 14. Meanwhile, confidence is lacking for Seattle Sounders FC, which haven’t scored in three consecutive defeats.

Seattle, though, are 8W-2L-2D in league play against D.C. United, which includes the current run of five straight wins. The last time to two sides met, Seattle became the first team in MLS history to win a match in regulation in which they trailed by 3+ goals, per Opta.

Seattle Sounders FC

Another game against Real Salt Lake one week apart and another loss for Seattle (2-7-2), wh0 followed a 1-0 home defeat by dropping a 2-0 decision at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Any hope of using the U.S. Open Cup as a chance to reverse their fortunates went out the window Wednesday night. Harry Shipp netted the dramatic stoppage-time equalizer, but they suffered a stinging 2-1 extra time defeat to Sacramento Republic FC of the USL.

“Some guys battled extremely hard, some guys were deserved of wearing the jersey and what we’ve got to learn from that is that we also need to make sure that we close games out in the right fashion,” Brian Schmetzer said after the game. “We need to make sure we’re disciplined, but I’m extremely proud of the effort.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: D - Roman Torres, M - Gustav Svensson
Injury Report: OUT: F - Jordan Morris (torn ACL), M - Osvaldo Alonso (left quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: M - Handwalla Bwana (right foot injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Frei — Jordan McCrary, Kim Kee-Hee, Chad Marshall, Nouhou Tolo — Jordy Delem, Cristian Roldan — Kelvin Leerdam, Clint Dempsey, Alex Roldan — Will Bruin

Notes: Nouhou Tolo (75.9%) and Jordy Delem (75.0%) finished second and third, respectively, in duel success rate since May 1 among players with at least 20 duels. … Seattle have gone 1W-3L-1D at CenturyLink Field this season, scoring just three goals and being shut out four times. They lost one home game and were shut out twice in 19 home matches last season (inc. playoffs).

D.C. United

Following a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, D.C. United (2-5-3) rallied to tie LAFC, 1-1, on May 26 with Darren Mattocks netting the late equalizer.

On Tuesday, back at Maryland SoccerPlex, D.C. United opened their USOC run with a dramatic penalty-kick shootout win over North Carolina FC after the teams played to a 1-1 draw. Ian Harkes scored in the 25th minute before Marios Lomis leveled late for North Carolina.

“We could have buried the game with an extra goal, but when you let opposing teams with a bit of experience stay in the game, they can hurt you on a set piece,” Ben Olsen said. “I thought we were fairly consistent throughout the night. They worked hard, were organized and made it difficult for us to break them down. On a few occasions they were dangerous on the counter but it was our own inability at times to unlock their defense."

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (groin injury), M - Russell Canouse (knee injury), D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (calf injury), M - Ulises Segura (knee injury); QUESTIONABLE: D - Nick DeLeon (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: David Ousted — Oniel Fisher, Steve Birnbaum, Frederic Brillant, Joseph Mora — Junior Moreno — Zoltan Stieber, Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Darren Mattocks

Notes: D.C. United have earned a win and draw in their last two road games. It is the first time they have gone consecutive league road games without a loss since April 22-May 27, 2017 (2W-1D).

All-Time Series

Overall: Seattle Sounders FC 8 wins, 22 goals … D.C. United 2 wins, 12 goals … 2 draws
At Seattle: Sounders FC 4 wins, 15 goals … D.C. United 1 win, 9 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Seattle: Seattle Sounders FC 4, D.C. United 3 (July 19, 2017)