RENTON -- Sporting Kansas City has struggled in MLS competitions this season, but not against the Sounders.

Seattle will seek payback for a 2-1 road loss to SKC in June. The Sounders had an early lead and conceded the game-winning goal in the 85th minute while playing down a man due to a red card.

SKC will play for the U.S. Open Cup title later this month and has won seven of the past 10 matches against Seattle.

Here's a look at Sunday's match:

Sounders (12-9-7) vs. Kansas City (7-14-7)

Time/place: 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle.

TV: Apple TV+ and FS1

Radio: iHeartMedia Seattle (English) and El Rey 1360 AM (Spanish).

Series history: Seattle leads the all-time series 14-13-4 since 2009.

Storylines

Open goal

The Sounders enter Sunday's match after 4-0 road win against the Columbus Crew. Many want an asterisk because the defending MLS Cup champions played with a field player in goal and down a man due to a red card.

Seattle could try a repeat performance against Sporting keeper Tim Melia. The veteran has allowed 46 goals this season, which is tied for third most in the league.

Legacy building

Sounders keeper Stefan Frei needs one clean sheet to take sole possession of second most in MLS history. He's currently tied with former LA Galaxy keeper Kevin Hartman with 112 all-time MLS regular-season shutouts.

Former Real Salt Lake keeper Nick Rimando leads with 154. Frei, who was acquired by Seattle via trade in 2013, teased that no one would break Rimando's record.

Frei was out last week due to a head injury suffered against Portland that required stitches. He passed concussion protocol and is available to play Sunday.

Injury update

Seattle will take the field without midfielder João Paulo (calf) and winger Léo Chú (knee) due to injury. Nouhou was also ruled out. The defender was limited in training since returning Thursday from a call-up for his Cameroon national team but wasn't declared injured.

SKC midfielder Nemanja Radoja (groin) and defender Jake Davis (red card suspension) are unavailable.

Quotable

"We're fighting for a spot in the top four so we can play at home [to open the postseason]," Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas said. "We've played [SKC] so many times and we've lost. We've seen how they've exploited us. We have to be extra careful to not let them do the same thing again."