FRISCO - If any two teams know each other, its definitely FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC in recent years. But it's a new year and a new start for every team, so we caught up with SoundersFC.com beat writer Ryan Krasnoo this week to preview another installation of the Dallas-Seattle rivalry.
CB: Coming off back-to-back trips to MLS Cup, what’s the biggest thing to watch for the Sounders heading into 2018?
RK: The biggest thing for the Sounders this year is how they replace Jordan Morris, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Few are faster with the ball in MLS than the 23-year-old Homegrown, and he rode that speed to 12 goals, an MLS Rookie of the Year nod and MLS Cup win in 2016. He battled separate ankle and hamstring injuries last year and was finally back at full strength in preseason before injuring his knee in the first CONCACAF Champions League Game in El Salvador against Santa Tecla. Sounders General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey has already stated that he will be looking to add another forward to make up for Morris’ absence, and whomever comes in will have some big shoes to fill.
CB: How will new additions Waylon Francis and Magnus Wolff Eikrem, among others, mesh in with a largely returning core?
RK: The Sounders return 10 of 11 starters from last year’s MLS Cup finalist team, so the foundation is still intact. Waylon Francis is a World Cup veteran with Costa Rica and has been around the league for a while. He’ll compete for minutes with 20-year-old Nouhou, who can continue to learn from Francis like he did from Joevin Jones last year. Magnus Wolff Eikrem has been incredibly impressive so far. He was Sweden’s Allsvenskan Midfielder of the Year in 2016 and is a product of Manchester United’s academy. Wolff is probably the truest No. 10 on Seattle’s roster — Nicolás Lodeiro operates more as an inverted playmaker and Clint Dempsey as a second striker — and has exceptional vision to pick out pockets of space for forwards to run into.
CB: Through preseason, CCL and one regular season match, who have been the biggest impact players in the early going?
RK: Homegrown Player Handwalla Bwana has really played beyond his years. He played two seasons at the University of Washington, but he’s still only 18 years old and is not afraid to take players on the dribble. He’s crafty and creative with a ton of pace and plays with a ton of confidence that belies his youth.
CB: How does Seattle’s approach differ on Sunday coming off a long, mid-week CCL trip than if it were a regular MLS match week?
RK: You’re probably going to see a somewhat rotational squad on Sunday in Dallas, perhaps similar to how the Sounders lined up against LAFC in the season opener. Seattle played all of its available starters on Wednesday in a CCL loss at Chivas, and the injuries keep piling up. Nicolás Lodeiro is questionable for the weekend after missing the Chivas match because of a right midfoot sprain. Will Bruin and Chad Marshall are also question marks for Sunday after each had to exit within 35 minutes in Mexico because of head injuries. Depending on Marshall’s availability, you could see new South Korean center back Kim Kee-hee, who made his debut Wednesday when he subbed on for Marshall.
CB: Dallas and Seattle always seem to have intense battles, but usually much later in the season. What are you expecting from this match?
RK: Frisco is such a tough place to play for the Sounders, who are only 3-4-5 at Toyota Stadium all time. I’m expecting two teams who are eager to get their first MLS wins of the season, especially after two unsatisfying home results in Week 1. Oscar Pareja is a great coach and will have his guys ready to play with two weeks of preparation, so the Sounders will need to find the game early.
