If FC Cincinnati beats the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on Tuesday, they will have a better chance of qualifying for the Major League Soccer playoffs for the first time in club history.
The reigning champions of the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in the history of the franchise.
They are six points behind the line for making the playoffs in the Western Conference, while Cincinnati has points in 10 consecutive domestic matches after edging Real Salt Lake 2-1 last Saturday.
Our Match Preview: Seattle Sounders vs FC Cincinnati
In the Pacific Northwest, the Rave Green has just three matches left and three teams to pass.
Last weekend’s (2-1) loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps was Brian Schmetzer’s first in over five years. Seattle has played the joint-fewest matches in the league, so a win would have given them an advantage in the postseason race (31).
Two of the Sounders’ last three regular-season games will be at Lumen Field, where they have won nine times in 2022 and are on a two-match winning streak. Many started calling this team’s obituary after they went winless in their last five domestic games last month.
There will undoubtedly be more skeptics down the stretch since Seattle has only won once in their final three regular-season games in 2020 and 2021.
Whether they reach the playoffs or not, this regular season will be regarded as dismal by the Sounders’ lofty standards, since they can claim no more than 48 points, their lowest total in a 34-match campaign since 2016.
In their past five games in which the Rave Green scored first, they lost three. They have also allowed a goal after 90 minutes in four games this year, three of which were game-winners.
The Orange and Blue are experiencing something they have never had in MLS: significant games this late in the season. Pat Noonan looks to have this squad rising at the perfect moment and in a position to clinch a first-ever playoff appearance since joining the league in 2019.
One slip-up may alter everything as the Orange and Blue are barely three points over the Eastern Conference playoff line.
This team’s excellent individual efforts helped them win six games by a single goal in 2022. Cincinnati has required skillful players to step up and gain points, surrendering multiple goals 13 times while scoring two or more 18 times.
The Orange and Blue have never beaten the Sounders in a regular-season game, falling 4-1 at Lumen Field in 2019.
Our Team News: Seattle Sounders vs FC Cincinnati
Will Bruin scored the Sounders’ lone goal in Saturday’s loss to the Whitecaps. It was his third of the year, tying him for seventh on the club with Albert Rusnak and Fredy Montero.
Nouhou Tolo had his 100th MLS regular-season start last week, Stefan Frei has four clean sheets at Lumen Field this season, and Jordan Morris started for the 150th time in all competitions last week. Tolo is on international duty with Cameroon, while Raul Ruidiaz is with Peru.
Alex Roldan is with El Salvador, Morris is trying to join the US World Cup team, and Xavier Arreaga is with Ecuador. Nicolas Lodeiro is suspended, and Cristian Roldan is recuperating from groin surgery.
Andrew Thomas and Obed Vargas had back stress fractures, while Joao Paulo tore his ACL. Brenner scored twice in Cincinnati’s last domestic win against RSL, tying Brandon Vazquez for the club lead.
Vazquez, Yuya Kubo, and Calvin Harris scored in Wednesday’s 3-1 triumph against Guadalajara. Kai Thomas earned his senior team debut in midweek’s win, while Roman Celentano saved Pablo Ruiz’s penalty last week to draw the game at the half.
Luciano Acosta leads Cincinnati with 13 assists as Beckham Sunderland and Kenneth Vermeer are out with injuries.
- Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup: Frei, Medranda, Ragen, Gomez, Dobbelaere, Rowe, Rusnak, Leyva, Bruin, Chu, Montero.
- FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup: Celentano, Matarrita, Murphy, Miazga, Hagglund, Powell, Acosta, Moreno, Nwobodo, Brenner, Vazquez.
Our Prediction: Seattle Sounders 1-2 FC Cincinnati
Losing your top goalscorer (in this case Ruidiaz), playmaker (in this case Lodeiro), and three of the most versatile players in the league (in this case the Roldans and Joao Paulo) seems like a hill that is too steep to climb for the Sounders.
Who has had to overcome a lot this season, including numerous injuries, to remain in the playoff hunt?
We feel that Cincinnati’s leading goalscorer, Brandon Vazquez, will be more motivated by his exclusion from the US national team for upcoming international friendlies. Vazquez has already shown that he can carry this team on his shoulders.