Atlanta United returns to action Friday night to take on Seattle Sounders FC with kick-off scheduled for 10 p.m. EST, televised nationally on FOX Sports 1. This is the first of a four-match road stretch for Atlanta with the club looking to build on convincing back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Chicago.
Atlanta enters Friday’s match in third place in the Eastern Conference with six points and a league-leading +8 goal differential. Seattle sits in sixth place in the Western Conference with four points. The two teams squared off in pre-season during the Carolina Challenge Cup, with Atlanta defeating Seattle 4-2 in Charleston, S.C. on Feb. 22.
Atlanta is coming off a dominant 4-0 win and its first clean sheet of the season at home against Chicago Fire on March 18. A Chicago own goal in the 4th minute gave Atlanta the early lead; then the Fire went down to 10 men after Johan Kappelhof was sent off in the 11th minute for a foul on Josef Martinez. Martinez netted a second-half brace to boost his MLS-leading goal tally to five in three games and Tito Villalba scored his first goal of the year.
While both teams had a week off from MLS action during the international break, Seattle hosted Club Necaxa on March 25. In Week 3, Seattle earned a 3-1 victory against New York Red Bulls. Clint Dempsey buried a penalty kick in the 28th minute and Jordan Morris and Harry Shipp added second-half goals to secure the win.
MATCH INFORMATION
Friday, March 31 | CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash. | 10:00 p.m. (EST)
Atlanta United (2-1-0, 6 points) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (1-1-1, 4 points)
TV: FOX Sports 1
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Alexi Lalas (commentator), Katie Witham (sideline).
English Radio: 92.9 The Game
Talent: Adam Schick (play-by-play) and Jason Longshore (commentator).
Spanish Radio: La Mejor 1600 AM
Talent: Armando Carillo (play-by-play) and Daniel Cantu (commentator).