FC Dallas will look to replicate last year’s incredible Leg Two comeback at home as the Seattle Sounders visit Toyota Stadium in the postseason for the third straight year. The Sounders hold a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinal after a 10-minute stretch of goals in Leg One. In all four meetings in 2016, the home side has won and Dallas will need a big win on Sunday to advance.
WORK CUT OUT
Quite simply, FCD will have to win by four or more goals to advance outright. A 3-0 win in Leg Two would tie the series 3-3 and send it to extra time and potentially PKs. Any other result – winning by three while allowing a goal, a win by two or less goals, a draw or a Seattle win – would see the Sounders advance to the Western Conference Final.
KEY PLAYER FOR SEATTLE
Nicolas Lodeiro – The newcomer registered a game-high 92 touches in Leg One and cleaned up with two goals in a four-minute span. If Dallas is to overcome their three-goal deficit, they’ll have to shut down the Seattle attack, and that begins with Lodeiro.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Mauro Rosales vs.Joevin Jones – The catalyst on all three Sounders’ goals in Leg One, Jones started the attack down the left side time after time in Leg One. Seattle pressed down the left side in 48 percent of their attacks and FCD will need to cut off the offensive flow at the source in Leg Two.
Maxi Urruti vs. Stefan Frei – FCD has to score goals to survive. To do that, they’ll have to beat Stefan Frei, who had three saves, one punched ball and two crosses caught in Leg One.
PROJECTED LINEUP (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Stefan Frei; Defenders: Joevin Jones, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Tyrone Mears; Midfielders: Cristian Roldan, Osvaldo Alonso; Jordan Morris, Erik Friberg, Nicolas Lodeiro; Forward: Nelson Valdez.
KEYS TO THREE POINTS
There’s no holding back in Leg Two. Expect Oscar Pareja’s side to throw the proverbial kitchen sink onto the Toyota Stadium pitch on Sunday as they look to mount the biggest comeback in MLS history. History is on their side after last year’s come-from-behind thriller against Seattle, and they’ll need an even bigger night this time around. Buckle up, because it will be intense.
