While FC Dallas’ bid for a historic treble took a major hit in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals with a 3-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC the squad has continuously proven its mettle at home with an impressive 12-1-4 record this season and will need more of the same for Sunday’s second leg at Toyota Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FS1/FOX Deportes/TSN). No MLS team has ever completed a comeback from a three-plus goal deficit after the first leg of a playoff series, but Dallas is no ordinary squad, becoming the first club in league history to record consecutive 60-plus point seasons. It’s been a tale of two seasons for Dallas and Seattle depending on the host, with Sounders FC winning 5-0 at CenturyLink field on July 13 in addition to Sunday’s first leg victory, while Dallas has compiled a pair of home victories this season — a 2-0 result on May 14 and a 2-1 win on October 16.
Seattle will look to continue its own impressive comeback story on Sunday, now boasting an in-form attacking unit led by Rookie of the Year candidate and U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jordan Morris, whose 12 goals this season were tops ever for an American rookie in MLS. Joining Morris with a strong run of form is Designated Player and two-time World Cup participant Nelson Valdez. Mired in a season-long scoring drought entering the postseason, Valdez has played hero for Sounders FC with two goals, including the game winner in the Knockout Round. Nicolas Lodeiro, meanwhile, continues to produce at a phenomenal pace for Seattle with two goals in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals and now has six goals and eight assists across all competitions since joining the team this summer.
By: Editor
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