Kickoff: Can Dejan Jovelic lift Seattle out of their slump?

The Seattle Sounders' winless run continued in Matchday 23 with a 2-2 draw vs. Chicago Fire FC at Lumen Field, but the Rave Green did get a memorable club debut from new No. 9 Dejan Jovelic. Does the super Serbian raise Seattle's ceiling in the race for trophies in 2026, or will it take more for the squad to emerge from its summer doldrums? That's one of the topics we'll discuss, along with the continued emergence of Sebastian Gomez, a look at the center back situation and the potential impact of the injury returns of Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris.

Later on, we'll jump around the league to discuss a standout performance from Philadelphia Union rising star Cavan Sullivan, a four-goal outburst from Lionel Messi, and a tense interaction between Chucky Lozano and Mikey Varas' in the LA Galaxy's match against San Diego FC.

☕️ Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff is presented by QED Coffee, a Seattle-based roaster, coffee shop, and coffee subscription service. Visit them in person at one of the three Seattle locations or online and use code ‘LS74’ for 25% off across the site: https://www.lobbingscorchers.com/coffee