Seattle Sounders vs. Austin FC Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 5/30/21
Seattle has the most points in the MLS and they play host to expansion side Austin FC, who have lost their last three matches.
After winning two matches Austin FC has dropped their last three. The club is in the 11th position in the Western Conference with six points with two wins and four losses. The main issue for the club this season has been an offense, which has only scored five goals in six matches.
Seattle is off to a great start this season leading the MLS with 17 points and they are one of only three teams in the league that are unbeaten with five wins and two draws. They have been great on both sides of the pitch scoring the most goals in the league (14) and conceding the second-fewest (3).
It Helps to Score
Austin has struggled on the offensive side of the pitch on the season and they have been shut out in their last two matches. All of their matches have been on the road this season, as they do not open their home stadium until June 19th. In their last match they lost to Nashville SC 1-0. Nashville had advantages in shots (14-12) and shots on target (6-1) even though Austin led in possession percentage (59% to 41%). They did find the back of the net in the 73rd minute but the goal was reversed after the review showed they were offsides.
Cecilio Domínguez, who missed on the only real scoring chance Austin had in the first half of the last match, and Diego Fagundez lead the club with two goals apiece. Jared Stroud, who was the player that was offsides in the last match were the goal was disallowed, leads them with two assists. In losing three matches in a row Austin FC has been outscored 5-1 and has played well in the possession game but has not been able to get scoring chances. FW Aaron Schoenfeld, MF Ulises Segura, DF Ben Sweat, and DF Hector Jimenez are all out for the Seattle match due to knee injuries.
First Goal Costs Seattle Win
It looked as if Seattle was on their way to another win in their last match but they conceded their first home goal in four matches in the 86th minute to settle for a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United FC. They gave up the late goal on a penalty when Brad Smith took Brooks Lennon in the box. The Sounders got off to a great start when Raul Ruidiaz found the back of the net in only the sixth minute but the club went scoreless the rest of the match. Seattle was less than impressive in the match, as they were dominated in time of possession (63% to 37%) and only had two shots on target.
Before their last match, the Sunders had won four straight matches outscoring their opponents 8-1. While Seattle has scored the most goals in the league their attack has cooled off with four goals in their last three matches. Ruidiaz ranks second in the MLS with six goals, Brad Smith and Fredy Montero have combined for five goals, and João Paulo and Alex Roldan have combined for five assists. G Stefan Frei and MF Nicolas Lodeiro have been ruled out for this match due to injuries and MF Josh Atencio is listed as questionable with a quad injury.
Trends
The Seattle Sounders are:
- 5-2-0 in their last 5 matches.
- 3-0-1 in their last 4 home matches
Austin FC is:
- 0-3 in their last 3 matches
Side:Seattle -167
After winning their first two matches of the season Austin has lost their last three matches and has been shut out in their last two. The team has struggled to find scoring chances and I do not see that changing facing a Seattle team that has only conceded three goals in seven matches. The Sounders are coming off a draw in their last match, which was not an impressive one, as they were dominated in time of possession and only found the back of the net once. The Seattle defense will play well in this Western Conference encounter and while their offense has not been great as of late they will score at least once in this match, which they will win and keep their unbeaten season intact.
Total:Under 2.5 goals
I am leaning towards the Under in this match between a couple of teams that only combined for one goal in their last matches. Seattle’s defense has been great all season only allowing three goals and they have only conceded one goal in four home matches and that was on a penalty shot. Austin has been shut out in their last two matches and that will happen again this Sunday in the Great Northwest. They only have five goals in six matches, and they will not add to that tally in this one. Austin’s attack will struggle once against facing a formidable Sounders’ defense and that is the main reason the pick for this match is Under.