MLS Playoffs | Regular Season

May 24, 2025 at 8pm UK

CenturyLink Field

Seattle vs Dallas

Match preview

Just when Brian Schmetzer thought his Sounders had found their form following a slow start to the season — earning one point from games against Los Angeles FC and Portland Timbers — the Rave Green were brought back down to earth.

The Sounders won only once in their first seven MLS games of 2025 — a 5-2 victory over LAFC in March — before earning 13 points from the next five matches. They scored three or more goals in three of their four wins against Nashville (3-0), St. Louis City (4-1) and Houston Dynamo (3-1).

However, this success was followed by a 4-0 defeat against LAFC and a draw with the Timbers.

This mixed start leaves the Sounders in sixth place in the Western Conference with 20 points. Entering this weekend's 15th round, they are at risk of slipping out of the top seven, though they are guaranteed to end the weekend in eighth or ninth place, as Houston Dynamo, in 10th place, are four points behind Schmetzer's team.

The home side's motivation for the 15th round should be bolstered by previous results against this weekend's visitors, as the Sounders have claimed three wins in the past four encounters, including a 1-0 victory in last month's fixture in Dallas.

Dallas' three-match unbeaten run ended with that home defeat to Seattle Sounders, and Eric Quill's team have only managed one win since: a 4-3 triumph over Inter Miami, who have been out of form recently.

Since beating last year's Supporters Shield winners, Los Toros have suffered two MLS defeats, losing 5-0 to San Diego and 2-0 to the Dynamo, either side of a 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake.

Adding to Dallas's disappointment was their elimination on penalties by the New York Red Bulls in the US Open Cup round of 16 on Wednesday night, after playing 120 minutes.

It will therefore be intriguing to see how much Quill's team have left in the tank after their midweek exertions as they attempt to recover from recent MLS and domestic cup setbacks.

The 4 May defeat at San Diego marked their first away loss of the season, highlighting their overall competence on the road aside from that setback. However, the 11th-placed Western Conference team aim to rectify those mistakes on Saturday.

Recent Performance

Seattle Sounders MLS form:WDWWLD

Dallas MLS form:LDWLDL

Dallas form (all competitions):WLWDLL

Team News

The Sounders will be without Paul Arriola, who is nursing a knee injury, as well as Jordan Morris and Jackson Ragen, who are both absent due to hamstring problems.

Although Albert Rusnak tops the scoring charts for the hosts with six goals, four of Danny Musovski's five strikes have come at the start of matches, highlighting the importance of the forward, who scored the only goal when the Seattle-based club secured a 1-0 victory over this weekend's opponents last month.

Maarten Paes returned on Wednesday after recovering from illness, but Enzo Newman (knee), Sebastian Lletget (leg), Geovane Jesus (knee) and Leo Chu (knee) are expected to miss out.

While no player on the away team has scored as many goals as Sounders' top scorer Luciano Acosta, Petar Musa and Anderson Julio have each netted three times for the Bulls, making them potential match-winners for Quill's team.

Possible starting lineup

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:

Frei; A. Roldan, Andrade, Kim, Tolo; C. Roldan, Vargas; Ferreira, Rusnak, Kent; Musovski

Dallas possible starting lineup:

Paes; Moore, Abubakar, Urhoghide, Norris; Kaick, Ramiro; Julio, Acosta, Kamungo; Musa