Austin FC Vs Seattle Sounders
Austin FC Vs Seattle Sounders Friday 23 July, 2021 – 02:30
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Seattle Sounders Draw No Bet
Odds: 13/10
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 21 July 2021)
Preview: Responding to adversity is something this Seattle Sounders team mastered in the early stages of a so far challenging season. The leaders of the Eastern Conference head to Austin, Texas, next for their first encounter since losing for the first time in MLS in 2021.
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Table of Contents
Austin – Lack of potency continues to hold them back?
Inter Miami – a side with the lowest points total in MLS this term – are the only team faring worse this season in front of goal than Austin, whose scoring woes once again came to the fore last time out in a 2-0 home loss to Los Angeles FC. That was an eighth blank in thirteen league outings, failing to score in four of the last five. All rather ominous ahead of taking on the leanest defence in the league.
Due to not having a fixture during the previous round, Josh Wolff and his Austin team lost ground on the play-offs in the Western Conference. That and the fact they have won only one of their past ten league encounters (D4 L5), securing the club’s maiden MLS home victory earlier in the month in some style with a 4-1 thrashing of Portland Timbers. They now sit three points off seventh-placed Real Salt Lake.
In the fortnight since seen losing here to LAFC, Wolff has had ample time to regroup his players and concoct a plan as to how best to bring down a Seattle side which has been near impregnable for much of the season. Particularly as Austin aren’t excelling in the attacking third: their 10 goals in 13 games came from 13.9 xG (1.1 xG Per Game), netting none at all in three of four outings at their Q2 Stadium in Texas.
Seattle Sounders – Recent setback a blip or start of something deeper?
The Sounders are getting their first run out since relinquishing the longest unbeaten start to an MLS season in competition history, finally succumbing at the fourteenth time of asking last weekend in Minnesota. There was only one goal in it, though, and the fact the match-clinching strike didn’t arrive until nine minutes from time was all the more frustrating for Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer.
In fairness to Schmetzer, he has been dealt a rough handed for a while. A host of players, some integral to the set-up, remain unavailable for selection, whether that be through various ailments or international commitments owing to the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup. It only makes their 13-game unbeaten start all the more impressive. In hindsight, there were a few red flags that were missed.
Seattle weren’t winning as frequently as they did earlier in the campaign, following up five wins from their first six fixtures by winning only three of the seven that preceded last week’s 1-0 scoreline at Minnesota United. Even the defence, which remains the best in the league statistically with only 0.64 conceded per game, has creaked, having gone the last seven matches keeping just two clean sheets.
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Austin Vs Seattle Sounders Betting Advice
Despite Seattle Sounders easily being the most consistent team in MLS this season, we can get generous odds on them becoming the second visiting side in quick succession to turn over Austin FC on their own patch, after LAFC did so a fortnight ago. The Sounders are vulnerable on the back of losing their first game of the season last time out, but this looks a forgiving fixture in which to ease themselves back into form.
Austin FC Vs Seattle Sounders – Key Facts:
- 16 points separate Austin FC (W3 D4 L6), down in tenth place, from Seattle Sounders (W8 D5 L1) who lead the Western Conference by two points from Sporting Kansas City.
- 14 days have passed since Austin’s last MLS encounter, a 2-0 home loss to LAFC. Seattle Sounders featured only four days ago as they lost for the first time all season 1-0 at Minnesota United.
- Five of the Seattle Sounders‘ eight victories this season were ‘to nil’. Moreover, three of Austin FC‘s four home matches seen them fire a blank in front of goal.
Austin FC are among the lowest scorers in MLS, behind only Inter Miami, and failed to score for the fourth game in five in the recent defeat to Los Angeles FC. That was also the third home game in four this season not scoring. So there are definite problems in the attacking third of the pitch. The hosts, though, will be much the fresher of the sides. However, the visitors are astute defensively and incredibly difficult to beat.
Best Betting Odds – Austin FC Vs Seattle Sounders
Austin – 6/5 (BetVictor)
Draw – 5/2 (Betfair)
Seattle Sounders – 11/5 (Betway)
