Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was asked if he expects his team to score five goals in two straight games. Against Montreal, the team puts its foot on the pedal and never lets up. Schmetzer said it would be nice but not expected. What Schmetzer expects from his team after last week’s 5-0 win over FC Montreal is another consistent effort by all players.
ALBERT RUSNACK FACTOR
In his first start of the season, midfield Albert Rusnack was dynamic in the midfield. When in possession of the ball Rusnack found the right pass whether it was a set piece to set up Raul Ruidiaz’s first goal or Alex Roldan’s second-half goal. In addition to his offensive prowess, Rusnack dropped in the defensive third to help out Josh Atencio and Obed Vargas. Rusnack will need a similar performance against an FC Dallas club struggling to score goals but has a stout defense.
STEFAN FREI FINDING HIS FORM
Stefan Frei earned his first shutout of the season and his 106th MLS regular season shutout in his career which put him third in league history and six shy of Kevin Hartman for second. Saturday’s match will be Frei’s 300th with the Sounders making him just the third player in MLS history to start at least 300 games for one club. His return to the post has calmed nerves and given confidence to the team.
BACKLINE JELLING
After some injuries and struggles the Sounders back line of Nouhou, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen and Alex Roldan are in sync. The rear guard was crisp in tackling and clinical when playing from the back in helping Frei secure the shutout. Montreal had just two shots on target and one big chance in the game according to fotmob.com. In fairness, Montreal played the majority of the second half playing with 10. The
FEED THE BEAST
FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes was named to MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Matchday presented by Audi for Matchday 8 after obtaining his first clean sheet of the 2024 season. While FC Dallas is struggling the backline and keeper are playing some decent football after earning its first point on the road. To beat a somewhat confident defense Jordan Morris will have to continue to be active without the ball. When in possession he will need to continue to find Raul Ruidiaz in the final third. Ruidiaz is in form so Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Rusnak must get the ball to him in space.
HOW MUCH TIME WILL JOAO PAULO SEE?
The other good news from last week’s game was the return of Joao Paulo. The Brazilian played the last twenty minutes of the game. It was his first action of the 2024 season. During practice this week Schmetzer was quoted saying that Paulo would see action but not start. Look for Paulo to get at least 30 minutes in the second half and if no complications he would get his first start on April 20th against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
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HEAD TO HEAD MATCH-UP
| TEAMS | SOUNDERS FC | FC DALLAS |
| Records | 1-3-1 | 1-4-1 |
| Last Five Games | 1-2-1 | 0-4-1 |
| Goal For / Against / Differential | +2 (9/7) | -4(6/10) |
| Leading Scorer | Ruidiaz (4) | Six Tied (1) |
| Leading Assists | Two Tied (2) | Five Tied (1) |
MATCHUP NOTES
- Last weekend’s win over Montréal marked the first of the season for
Seattle and saw the Rave Green score five goals in the regular season for the
first time since August 15, 2021, a 6-2 win over the Portland Timbers.
• Club captain and goalkeeper Stefan Frei is set to make his 300th career
regular season appearance for Seattle on Saturday. He would become only
the third player in MLS history to make 300 regular-season appearances for
a single club, joining Diego Chara (Portland, 374) and Andrew Farrell (New
England, 329).
• Midfielder João Paulo made a substitute appearance against Montréal
on Saturday, his first appearance of the season. The Brazilian has been
rehabbing a hip injury since preseason.
FC DALLAS NOTES
- FC Dallas comes into the match with a win, four defeats, and a draw.
- Dallas and Seattle have matched up 45 times across all competitions.
- Dallas’ record against the Sounders is 12-21-12.
- In MLS regular season action, the record stands at 8-14-10.
- Dallas’ record against the Sounders at Toyota Stadium is 7-4-6. The
- Sounders have been unable to win at Toyota Stadium since 2021.
- Dallas and Seattle played in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Round
- One Best-of-3 series. Dallas lost Game One and opened Game Two
- with two goals scored during the first 12 minutes, the quickest pair of
goals scored by FC Dallas in its postseason history.
- Dallas broke a streak of four games without a victory against Seattle
on November 4, 2023.
- Ranked 24 in goals scored per match (1 goal)
- Haven’t won a match in 5 attempts
- FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC have not drawn any of their last 3 matches against each other.
Ranked 14 in goals scored per match (1.5 goals)
- Have been awarded the most penalties this season (4)
- Cristian Roldan has created the most big chances for Seattle Sounders FC (2)
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