MX23RW : Monday, July 4 12:55:14| >> :600:324504:324504:
[monks data]
Jun 30, 2022 at 3am UK at CenturyLink Field
Seattle
1 - 2
Montreal
Morris (3')
Rowe (43'), Ragen (90+4')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Toye (18', 62')
Wanyama (35'), Quioto (90+1')

Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. CF Montreal - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between Seattle Sounders and CF Montreal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Western Conference side Seattle Sounders will welcome Eastern Conference outfit CF Montreal to Lumen Field for their MLS encounter on Thursday.

The hosts have accumulated 23 points from their 15 league matches this season, while the visitors have picked up three more points, although they have played a game more.


Match preview

Teammates congratulate Seattle Sounders midfielder Joao Paulo (6) on scoring in the first half against Minnesota United at Allianz Field on April 2, 2022© Reuters

Seattle managed to maintain their impressive run of form on home soil when they secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Will Bruin opened the scoring in the eighth minute before two strikes within five second-half minutes from Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan sealed all three points for the Sounders.

Brian Schmetzer's men have now won four of their last five home league matches, scoring 13 goals in the process, and last weekend's result has seen them climb up to seventh place and into the playoffs, two points above Houston Dynamo in eighth with a game in hand.

Seattle, however, are currently nine points and six places worse off than at this stage last season and hopes of finishing inside the top two of the Western Conference for a sixth successive campaign may depend on whether they can maintain their strong run of form.

The Sounders head into Thursday's game having failed to win any of their last three meetings against Montreal, although their last encounter was back in June 2019 when they lost 2-1 on the road.

CF Montreal head coach Wilfried Nancy during the second half against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on April 2, 2022© Reuters

Montreal bounced back from a heavy 4-0 loss to Toronto in the Canadian Championship with a 2-1 win at home to Charlotte on Sunday.

A lively start to the contest saw Romell Quioto's sixth-minute opener cancelled out just three minutes later by Guzman Corujo. However, the hosts regained the lead two minutes after half time courtesy of a strike from substitute Mathieu Choiniere and they managed to hold on for all three points.

Wilfried Nancy's side have climbed up to third in the Eastern Conference, just three points behind league leaders Philadelphia Union, although New York City FC in second place would move to the summit if they were to win their game in hand.

Although Montreal have lost four of their last six MLS away games, they should be confident of securing a positive result on Thursday as they have picked up 16 points from their last 24 available against Seattle.

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W

CF Montreal form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W


Team News

Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half against the New York City FC at Red Bull Arena on April 13, 2022© Reuters

Seattle duo Xavier Arreaga and Raul Ruidiaz remain sidelined with hamstring problems, while Joao Paulo is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury.

Schmetzer is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup following last weekend's victory, with Alex Roldan, Yeimar Andrade, Jackson Ragen and Nouhou Tolo all set to retain their places in the back four.

New recruit Albert Rusnak and Kelyn Rowe could continue in centre-midfield while playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro is set to start in the number 10 role behind striker Will Bruin.

As for Montreal, top scorer Djordje Mihailovic – who has found the net seven times in 13 games this term – is ruled out with an ankle injury, while Tomas Giraldo and Bjorn Johnsen are sidelined with respective hamstring and foot problems.

The absence of Mihailovic will likely see either Ahmed Hamdi or Sunusi Ibrahim start in an attacking midfield role alongside Joaquin Torres, with Romell Quioto operating as the lone striker.

Centre-back Kamal Miller remains doubtful with a knock so Alistair Johnston could slot into the back three once again, while former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama is expected to captain the side in centre-midfield.

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Andrade, Ragen, Tolo; Rowe, Rusnak; C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris; Bruin

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Breza; Johnston, Camacho, Waterman; Brault-Guillard, Wanyama, Kone, Lappalainen; Torres, Hamdi; Quioto


SM words green background

We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 CF Montreal

A closely-fought contest is set to be played out at Lumen Field, but Seattle will be regarded as the slight favourites given their impressive home form.

Although Montreal currently sit higher in the overall MLS standings, we can see the hosts securing a slender victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data

ID:488877:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12623:

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How you voted: Seattle vs Montreal

Seattle Sounders
77.8%
Draw
14.8%
CF Montreal
7.4%
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Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on April 3, 2022
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Tables

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls199552920932
2Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia187922213930
3New York City FCNY City1785433191429
4CF MontrealMontreal179263229329
5New England RevolutionNew England186752928125
6FC CincinnatiCincinnati187472932-325
7Orlando City177462023-325
8Charlotte FCCharlotte FC1972101923-423
9Columbus Crew175752018222
10Inter MiamiInter Miami166371725-821
11Atlanta UnitedAtlanta175572626020
12Toronto1853102434-1018
13Chicago Fire184591624-817
14DC United154291827-914

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls199552920932
2Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia187922213930
3New York City FCNY City1785433191429
4CF MontrealMontreal179263229329
5New England RevolutionNew England186752928125
6FC CincinnatiCincinnati187472932-325
7Orlando City177462023-325
8Charlotte FCCharlotte FC1972101923-423
9Columbus Crew175752018222
10Inter MiamiInter Miami166371725-821
11Atlanta UnitedAtlanta175572626020
12Toronto1853102434-1018
13Chicago Fire184591624-817
14DC United154291827-914

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