Prediction: Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas

Verdict: Seattle Sounders win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways in the early hours of Sunday, Seattle will welcome Dallas to Lumen Field this weekend.

Seattle Sounders

Starting with the hosts, putting in a downbeat performance earlier in the week as they slumped to a routine 2-0 loss away at San Jose, Seattle will certainly be excited to make a return to Lumen Field here. Still impressing many across the MLS since opening up the 2023 campaign, the Sounders find themselves sat firmly in pole position to clinch a play-off ticket this season. Suffering just a pair of defeats from their last seven domestic appearances, Brian Schmetzer’s side have gained a reputation for their rugged approach on home soil. Last seen in Washington claiming a 1-0 victory against Houston on July 1st, it should be highlighted that Seattle have not shipped a single strike in front of their own supporters in over 300 minutes of action. Sat just three points adrift of Western Conference leaders St. Louis, Schmetzer’s men should be smelling a golden chance here.

Team News

Seattle have confirmed that they will once again be without the injured trio of Ethan Dobbelaere, Sota Kitahara and Xavier Arreaga. Likewise, still away with the USA on Gold Cup duties, the Sounders will be unable to call upon leading marksman and one-time Swansea forward Jordan Morris here.

Forced to settle for a spot away at San Jose earlier in the week, 26-year-old defender Alexander Roldan could be handed a full return in the early hours of Sunday.

FC Dallas

As for the visitors, while Dallas might also find themselves leading the chase to claim another play-off ticket in 2023, the Burn are in the midst of what has become an extended rut. Putting in another worrying performance last weekend as they suffered a 2-1 loss away at Colorado, the Texas-based outfit have come tumbling down the Western Conference standings. Along with marking their return from June’s international break with a nightmare 3-0 drumming at the hands of Austin, Nico Estevez’s men have lost four of their previous five MLS appearances. Likewise, on a run that stems all the way back to May 17th, Dallas have mustered just a pair of wins from any of their last 10 showdowns across all competitions. Hit with a 1-0 defeat when they made the trip to Washington last season, the Burn should face another tough challenge here.

Team News

Dealing with what has become a mounting injury list on either side of June’s international break, Dallas will once again be without the likes of Emmanuel Twumasi, Tarik Scott, Jose Martinez, Paul Arriola and Jesus Jimenez. Likewise, picking up a knock earlier in the month, Sunday’s guests are still sweating over the fitness of 21-year-old defender Geovane Jesus.

Despite failing to find the net in his last four domestic appearances, ex-Aguilas striker Jader Obrian should spearhead Estevez’s attack here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met at Lumen Field last season, Seattle picked up a 1-0 victory.
• Likewise, Sunday’s hosts have suffered just a single defeat from any of their last seven appearances against Dallas.
• The Sounders have not shipped a single strike at Lumen Field in over 300 minutes of action.
• Along with losing four of their previous five MLS appearances, Dallas have won just a pair of their previous 10 matchups across all competitions.
• The Burn have lost each of their previous four MLS appearances outside of Texas by an aggregate score of 8-2.

Conclusion

Putting in a flat performance away at San Jose earlier in the week, Seattle will be desperate to prove that was nothing more than a minor blip. Gaining a reputation for their rugged approach on home soil, Sunday’s hosts should be smelling a real chance here. Not shipping a single goal at Lumen Field in over 300 minutes of MLS action, the Sounders will be looking to cash in on a Dallas squad that are in the midst of an extended crisis. Losing four of their last five appearances, the Burn have also shown a string of issues on the road. It should be noted, the Burn have lost their previous four showdowns outside of Texas by an aggregate score of 8-2. With Seattle claiming a 1-0 win when they welcomed Dallas to Lumen Field last season, we are expecting a similar outcome here.

Verdict: Seattle Sounders win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Olympusbet