Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake | 2016 MLS Match Preview

SEATTLE SOUNDERS vs. REAL SALT LAKE
CenturyLink Field | Seattle, Washington
Sunday, Oct. 23 | Week #34 | MLS Game #339
5 pm ET (ESPN in US, MLS LIVE in Canada)

Two of the Western Conference's final four contenders for a spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs meet in downtown Seattle on Decision Day, both knowing that a positive result is needed to bank qualification for the postseason. Real Salt Lake enter the final week with a one-point lead over the Sounders in the standings and can clinch with a draw. But the Utah side are winless in their last six matches and have scored just four goals during that stretch, while Seattle are 4-1-1 in the same span. A loss for either side would expose them to risk of being passed by Sporting KC and Portland, should those teams dig out positive results in their respective games. 

• Nicolas Lodeiro returned to the lineup and scored his fourth goal since coming to MLS, but Sounders FC saw their winless streak hit two games following a four-game winning run, suffering a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon.
• Real saw their winless streak extended to six games with a third draw in that time, reaching a goalless result with Sporting Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL has scored one goal over their last five matches.
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season in league play, each having won by a 2-1 scoreline on their home ground. On Aug. 14, Nicolas Lodeiro scored one goal and set up another from Jordan Morris, in a Sounders FC win at CenturyLink Field. Jamisón Olave netted the late game-winner, giving Real the win March 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
• Sounders FC have won the last five meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field. RSL have scored goals on their last three visits to Seattle; they had gone more than two seasons, dating back to 2012, without scoring at CenturyLink Field.
• Real have won their last five home games vs. Seattle. Sounders FC last won in league play at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 28, 2011, a span of six games.   

REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Joe Fletcher; 4th:David Gantar
MLS Career: 222 games; FC/gm: 24.9; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 79; pens: 78

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: SEA: Osvaldo Alonso • RSL: Luke Mulholland, Sunday Stephen
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (19 meetings): Sounders FC 7 wins, 24 goals • Real 8 wins, 21 goals • Ties 4
AT SEATTLE (10 meetings): Sounders FC 6 wins, 17 goals • Real 2 wins, 7 goals • Ties 2

2016 (MLS):
3/12: RSL 2, SEA 1 (Stephen 43; Olave 86 • Alonso 28)
8/14: SEA 2, RSL 1 (Lodeiro 24; Morris 37 • Plata 62)

Coaches record: Brian Schmetzer vs. RSL: P1 W1 L0 D0 • Jeff Cassar vs. SEA: P7 W3 L4 D0