With Internationals back in the fold with no major injuries the Seattle Sounders are set to take on the LA Galaxy. Kelyn Rowe and Dylan Teves are the two players ruled out for the Galaxy game due to hamstring injuries. Right hamstring for Teves and left hamstring for Rowe.
CHALLENGING DECISION
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer will have a challenging decision when it comes to picking the starting eleven. Goalkeeper and backline will be easy for Schmetzer. Stefan Frei, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, and Alex Roldan are sure bets. Nouhou had the longest trip back from International duty as he traveled from South Africa. He was a full participant at Friday’s practice so you figure he will start. Especially with Rowe unavailable.
MIDFIELD SIMPLE SORT OF
The obvious sure-bet midfielders are Nicolas Lodeiro, Joao Paulo, Albert Rusnack, and Cristian Roldan. Add Jordan Morris to that list though he is not a midfielder. From their things get interesting. Will Schmetzer stay with Leo Chu ? Hard to imagine Schmetzer would start a game with Raul Ruidiaz and Eber on the bench. But given last week’s success an argument could be made for the latter.
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GAME NOTES:
• Sounders FC has played Galaxy more than any other opponent in
MLS play, facing-off 42 times in regular season and postseason action,
with Seattle holding a slight 15-14-13 edge.
• Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is looking for his 100th
regular season win since taking over in 2016. A win on Saturday would
make him the third-fastest coach to reach that number (212 matches).
• The Galaxy is off to a 0-1-3 start to its season, scoring only two goals
throughout its first four games. After losing 3-1 to FC Dallas on the road
to open its season, LA has drawn three consecutive matches against
Sporting Kansas City, Vancouver and Portland. Two goals marks the
fewest amount of goals the club has scored through four games in club
history.
- SOUNDERS BY THE NUMBERS
1: Appearance for Sota Kitahara, who made his MLS debut on Saturday
against Sporting Kansas City.
2: Duos in MLS history have had one player tally four goals and another assist
on each of the four goals. Jordan Morris (four goals) and Léo Chú (four assists)
joined this list against Sporting Kansas City, with Brian Ching (four goals) and
Dwayne De Rosario (four assists) accomplishing this feat for the Houston Dyna-
mo on April 2, 2006.
3: Clean sheets recorded by Stefan Frei this season, tied for first in MLS.
4: Assists recorded by Léo Chú against SKC, a single-match club record.
4: Goals scored by Jordan Morris against SKC, a single-match club record.
6: Sounders FC players that reported for international duty during the March
FIFA window.
6.05: Expected assists by Seattle this year, first in MLS.
7: Goals scored through five games for Jordan Morris, first in MLS.
8: Goal differential by Seattle through five matches, second in MLS.
10: Goals scored by Seattle this year, fourth in MLS.
11: Expected goals created by Sounders FC this year, top of MLS.
12: Key passes completed by Nico Lodeiro, tied for third in MLS.
12: Shots against for Sounders FC, second-fewest in MLS.
16: Players who have scored four or more single-match goals in MLS history,
including Morris’ effort on against SKC.
23: Years since a player has scored four or more goals on the road. The only
other instance was achieved by Clint Mathis at Dallas on August 26, 2000.
29: Shots on target for Sounders FC, third in MLS.
47: Accurate long balls by Stefan Frei this season, second in MLS.
54: Duel percentage for Seattle this year, first in MLS.
59: All-competition goals scored by Jordan Morris since joining Seattle 2016.
With his four-goal effort on Saturday, Morris passed Lodeiro (56) and Dempsey
(57) on the club’s all-time list, now sitting in third place.
70: Total scoring attempts for Sounders FC, fourth in MLS.
76: All-competition goals scored by Fredy Montero, first in club history.
81.8: Save percentage recorded by Stefan Frei this season, third-highest of
all goalkeepers who have played five matches this season.
94: Career shutouts in MLS regular season games for Stefan Frei, third in
league history (Nick Rimando 154, Kevin Hartman 112).
99: Career MLS regular-season wins for Head Coach Brian Schmetzer in just
211 matches.
100: All-competition Sounders FC appearances for Yeimar Gómez Andrade.
161: Accurate forward zone passes made by Nico Loderio though five
games, fifth in MLS.
274: Accurate passes completed by João Paulo, sixth in MLS.
321: All competition starts for Stefan Frei for Seattle, one shy of Osvaldo
Alonso for most in club history.
339: All-competitions appearances for Osvaldo Alonso, first in club history.
