FULL-TIME: The Sounders moved up to fifth and just two points out of second in the Western Conference with a 2-0 win over Sporting KC on Sunday. Jackson Ragen and Paul Rothrock scored goals with Jordan Morris picking up an assist.

SOUNDERS 2, SPORTING KC 0: Paul Rothrock finished off a chance created when Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris combined.

SOUNDERS 1, SPORTING KC 0: Jackson Ragen pounced on a rebound from a Jordan Morris header to give the Sounders the early lead.

LINEUPS: There are three changes to the Sounders lineup from last week, with Stefan Frei returning to goal, Obed Vargas returning from international duty and Georgi Minoungou replacing Pedro de la Vega, who is on the bench.

The final push to the playoffs starts right about now for the Seattle Sounders, as they host the first of three consecutive home games that will likely determine where they finish in the Western Conference standings. If they can claim all nine points, they’ll be set up very nicely to finish in the top four spots and claim home-field advantage in the first round. If they slip in any of them, they’ll likely be battling just to stay out of the play-in game.

The first of these games is against Sporting KC, a team that has struggled this year but who has a history of success at Lumen Field. Sporting KC have gone 4-1-0 in their last five trips to Seattle, including a 2-1 win here last year. Overall, the two teams are 12-12-4 against one another in all competitions.

A Sounders win today would push them up to fifth and just one point out of third in the Western Conference standings, while a loss would leave them in seventh, just three points ahead of the play-in game with each of the teams chasing them having a game in hand.

Notes

• The Sounders have conceded fewer home goals (12) than any other team in MLS this year. They also conceded the fewest home goals last year.
• With his hat trick last week, Albert Rusnák now has 20 goal contributions (8 goals, 12 assists) during the MLS season. He’s the ninth Sounder to accomplish that feat and the first since Nicolás Lodeiro did it in 2018.
• Jordan Morris set a career high with his 15th goal across all competitions last week. He had previously scored 14 in a season twice (2016, 2023).
• Mauro Rosales (2011-2013) will be honored as a Sounders Legend before today’s game.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Sounders

OUT: João Paulo - Calf; Nouhou - Not Due to Injury

QUESTIONABLE: Léo Chú - Knee

Sporting Kansas City

OUT: Jake Davis - Suspension; Joaquin Fernandez - Groin; Nemanja Radoja - Groin

QUESTIONABLE: Logan Ndenbe - Hamstring

Recent form

Sounders: WLWLW (3-2-0)
Sporting KC: DWDLW (2-1-2)

Kit matchup

Officials

REF: Drew Fischer; AR1: Felisha Mariscal; AR2: Eduardo Jeff; 4TH: Elton Garcia; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Joshua Patlak

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Sunday, 4:24 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Global Streaming English: MLS Season Pass (Max Bretos & Brian Dunseth)

Global Streaming Spanish: MLS Season Pass (Jorge Perez-Navarro & Marcelo Balboa)

English TV: FS1 (Joe Malfa & Jamie Watson)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle, iHeartMedia (Danny Jackson, Brad Evans & Michelle Ludtka-Furbus)

National radio: Sirius XM FC 157 (simulcast)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

Is this game available to stream for free? Yes

Will Sounders radio be available as an alternate feed? Yes

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting KC; watch with us

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