LOS ANGELES GALAXY v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

LOS ANGELES GALAXY v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC make the trip to Avalon Boulevard in the Southland to visit our close friends LA Galaxy. Let the mayhem commence.

What: MLS league match Los Angeles Galaxy v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Avalon Boulevard, Carson, California.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 30 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: With the Sounders currently in 28th place with zero victories, can we prove that we’re better than our record suggests?

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: iHeart Radio and El Rey 1360 AM.

Just because the Sounders haven’t sorted it out yet, doesn’t mean we’re not going to sort it out. It’s another benchmark match, and we still have all these injuries to key players. That makes this match a significant challenge. However, when have we ever backed down from a challenge?

If you can find your way to Carson, link up with ours and make a level of noise that makes it difficult for Apple TV audio engineers to squelch you out. If you’re here in The Evergreen, get ye to the pub and round up your mates, or invite them by to your house and flat. Make some noise and if your neighbours complain, invite them by.

It’s Sounders football, under the Saturday night lights at Avalon Boulevard in the Southland. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!

Danny Musovski has gotten us our first goal from the run of play. Well done, Danny!

The Good News

We’ve got Albert back from injury, and the Gaffer might even let him play 90 minutes, rather than just the last 40. Got Atencio back, and Josh is a good footballer who will find his form, given enough time to do it. Still got Cristian, Morris, Stef, and the back four. If that’s not enough for victory, then I don’t know what.

Sounders showed resilience to level the match after being down 2:0 at Coleman Avenue last Sat. More of that, with some tightening up at the back, and we’re in with a shout.

Cody Baker is looking awfully good lately at left-back. Good enough that maybe he should be in the team. Maybe with all these injuries, it’s time to get Alex back to his natural position in midfield.

Although Galaxy’s attack is producing far more goals, their 12 to our four at last count, They are also the more likely team to concede two goals. Maybe that’s a crack in their armour and we can jam our boot in the door. I know it’s a mixed metaphor. Go with it.

The Bad News

Galaxy spent the better part of €18M on players this offseason, and sold Edwards, Judd, and Boyd for over €1.2M. We spent €6.4M on de la Vega, and that’s it. The melody may change, but the refrain remains the same.

Galaxy defeated San Jose 1:3, and we were defeated by them 3:2. Granted, we have many injured players, but we’ll face LA Galaxy with mostly the same lineup that took the pitch at Coleman Avenue. Fair enough to say that anything can happen after kick-off, but this data paints a bleak picture for our lot.

Galaxy are unbeaten (2-3-0) so far this season and have no players injured save for defender Jalen Neal. We have our key signing Pedro de la Vega, starting left-forward Leo Chu, starting holding midfielder Joao Paulo, and teenage midfield starlet Obed Vargas all out injured.

Galaxy are averaging 2.4 goals per match to our 1.0. This will be a problem.

The Side I Would Select

Well, we’ve tried a new system, and it’s not working right now. So back to basics. Injuries are still limiting the side, but with Albert back…hopefully for 90 minutes, we could be in with a shout.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM   Atencio

RDM   Leyva

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Cristian

CF     Ruidiaz

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

The Gaffer favours a 4-4-2 double-6 this season for the purposes of getting both Morris and Ruidiaz to lead the line at centre-forward. So that’s the shape I’ll predict from. Schmetzer also shifted Cristian to left-midfield last Sat. I’ll wager he sticks with that. Add to this the interesting question of what role Rusnak will play in this shape. Will he play more as a #10 or a #6?

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LM     Cristian

LCM    Atencio

RCM    Rusnak

RM     Teves

LCF     Morris

RCF    Ruidiaz

Intangibles

Looks like PRO Referees has finally reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement with their referees. No more scabs…for now.

The referee for Saturday night’s match will be Ismail Elfath. In MLS league matches with Elfath as referee, the Sounders FC have a record of 6-7-12 (W-D-L). In MLS league matches with Elfath as referee, LA Galaxy have a record of 11-2-5.

General notes on personnel

LA Galaxy transfers IN:

Berry (Atlanta United) ATL gets LAG’s 33rd pick in 2024 draft

Nelson (St. Louis City) free

McCarthy (Los Angeles FC) free

Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale) free

Pec (Vasco da Gama) €9.3M

Paintsil (KRC Genk) €8.5M

Bibout - reserves

Lepley - draft

Scott (Columbus Crew) free

LA Galaxy transfers OUT:

Alfaro (El Paso Locomotive) free

Calegari (Fluminense) end of loan

Klinsmann (Cesena) free

Leerdam (Heracles Almelo) free

Rosell - released

Sharp - (Hull City) free

Barrios (America de Cali) free

Costa (Fluminense) free

Chicharito (CD Guadalajara) free

Saldana (KFUM-Kameratene Oslo) free

Edwards (CF Montreal) €371,000

Judd (San Jose Earthquakes) €182,000

Boyd (Nashville) €701,000

Mavinga - released

Bond - released from contract

Comparison against common opponents

SJ 1:3 LAG

SJ 3:2 SEA

(against SJ: LAG 1-0-0 +2, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge LAG

Know Thine Enemy

Galaxy as they lined up in their 2:3 victory over Kansas City at State Avenue on 23 March.

GOALKEEPER

John McCarthy, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (21/0), Inter Miami (21/0), Los Angeles FC (26/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Played his university football for La Salle (74/0). Won an MLS Cup and an MLS League title with LAFC in 2022, by the most technical of margins. McCarthy played one match in the league last season for 90 minutes, and played three minutes at the end of the MLS Cup Final after Crepeau was sent-off, and then helped win the penalty kick tie-breaker. Named USL Rookie of the Year, USL Goalkeeper of the Year, and USL All-League First Team in 2014. Named MLS Cup MVP 2022. Awarded the CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove 2023, and named to the CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2023.

DEFENCE

Julian Aude, 21

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Lanus (25/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (27/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Developed by CBP Nicolas Avellaneda and Lanus. Has played for Argentina at youth levels (5/0). Won a CONMEBOL U17 title with Argentina U17s.

Maya Yoshida, 35

Japan (126/12)

Notable Clubs: Nagoya Grampus (71/5), VVV Venlo (54/5), Southampton (154/6), Sampdoria (72/3), Schalke 04 (29/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (17/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Nagoya Grampus. Won an AFC Asian Cup with Japan. Named to AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament 2019.

Eriq Zavaleta, 31

El Salvador (27/3)

Notable Clubs: Seattle Sounders FC (5/0), Chivas USA (17/0), Toronto FC (118/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000

Notes: Developed by IMG Academy, FC Pride, Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA, and Columbus Crew SC. Played his university football for Indiana (46/28). Won an MLS Cup and MLS League double, and three Canadian Championships with Toronto FC.

Miki Yamane, 30

Japan (16/2)

Notable Clubs: Shonan Bellmare (100/3), Kawasaki Frontale (133/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.6M

Notes: Developed by Azamino FC, Tokyo Verdy, Daiichi Gakuin HS, and Toin University of Yokohama. Won a J2 League title and J.League Cup with Shonan Bellmare. Won two J1 League titles, two Emperor’s Cup, and one Japanese Super Cup with Kawasaki Frontale. Named to J.League Best XI three times.

MIDFIELD

Riqui Puig, 24

Catalonia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Barcelona (42/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (44/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €12M

Notes: Developed by Jabac Terrassa and FC Barcelona. Youth honours for FC Barcelona. Won a Spanish league title and Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona.

Edwin Cerrillo, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (87/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (16/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Cerrillo has played at youth levels for United States (2/0).

Marco Delgado, 28

United States (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Chivas USA (37/2), Toronto FC (181/15), Los Angeles Galaxy (64/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Pomona United, LAFC Chelsea, IMG Academy, Cosmos Academy West, and Chivas USA. Won MLS Cup and MLS League double in 2017, and  three Canadian Championships.

FORWARD

Gabriel Pec, 23

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Vasco da Gama (168/25), Los Angeles Galaxy (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Full Name: Gabriel Fortes Chaves. Developed by Vasco da Gama.

Dejan Joveljic, 24

Serbia (6/2)

Notable Clubs: Red Star Belgrade (21/11), Eintracht Frankfurt (4/0), Anderlecht (5/1), Wolfsberger AC (34/18), Los Angeles Galaxy (83/24)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Sloga Junajted and Red Star Belgrade. Won two Serbian SuperLiga titles with Red Star Belgrade.

Joseph Paintsil, 26

Ghana (15/0)

Notable Clubs: Tema Youth (22/10), Ferencvaros (25/10), Genk (130/30), Ankaragucu (33/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €9.5M

Notes: Developed by RB Ghana and Tema Youth. Won a Belgian league title and Belgian Super Cup with Genk.

Familiar Faces

Eriq Zavaleta, of LA Galaxy and El Salvador, played for the Sounders FC (5/0) from 2013-2014.

Squads

LA Galaxy from:

McCarthy, Micovic, Brady, Aude, Caceres, Cuevas, Ferkranus, Nelson, Yamane, Yoshida, Zavaleta, Aguirre, Brugman, Cerrillo, Delgado, Fagundez, Lepley, Perez, Puig, Vivi, Bibout, Berry, Joveljic, Paintsil, Pec.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

LA Galaxy -

OUT: Neal (abdominal).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), Chu (knee), de la Vega (hamstring), Rodrigues (hamstring), Joao Paulo (hip), Vargas (head).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players suspended this match.

Fun Fact

Sounders reserves remain undefeated with a resounding 4:2 victory over Colorado Rapids 2 at Starfire on 24 March. Newboy, Faysal Bettache hit a brace, with fellow newboy Tsukanome also scoring a goal. Minoungou also added a goal. Well done, lads! Keep it up!

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Time for a trip down to the South Bay and the Coleman Avenue football ground. The opponents this Saturday, the legacy club with the massive identity crisis, San Jose Clash– I mean, San Jose Earthquakes– I mean Houston Dynamo– I mean, San Jose Earthquakes. That which is old is new again.

What: MLS league match, San Jose Earthquakes v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Coleman Avenue, San Jose, California.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 23 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: The questions are the same as it was against Colorado last week. Can we score goals? Can we score enough goals to defeat the lower tier clubs in the league? Can we get positive results with so many players out due to injury? In more concrete terms: A scenario where San Jose defeats us, Orlando defeats Austin, and New England bests Chicago would see the Sounders drop to 29th place in the league. The bottom of the MLS table.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The lads have got to be hurting. Not just the ones getting treatment on the trainer’s table during the week. The Sounders need our support more than ever.

Now is the chance to show your mettle, and for the Sounders FC to show theirs. A massive chunk of the squad injured. Chips are down. Backs to the wall. And several other desperation cliches as well.

If you can make it down to the Bay for the match, definitely do that. If not. You lot know what to do. Pubs, dwellings, houses, flats, boats, and ships. All hands to action stations. This is not a drill. This is not a drill. Sound collision. Brace for impact. It’s Sounders football, under the lights in the South Bay. C’MON YOU SOUNDERS! GET IN!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!

When you’re goalkeeping, 24’ x 8’ feels like the size of a two-car garage.

When you’re attempting to score a goal, it feels like the size of a postage stamp.

The Good News

United States international forward, Cade Cowell, who had been one of the Quakes’ most dangerous attacking players transferred to CD Guadalajara (a/k/a Chivas) for €3.65M. So that’s one less thing to worry about.

Morris, Cristian, Ruidiaz, Frei and the entire defence, who are amongst the best eight clubs in the league in goals conceded, are healthy and good to go. There is a lot of quality there.

San Jose are missing Daniel and Marcinkowski, their arguably two best goalkeepers. Several others in their team are unavailable due to national team commitments including Baldisimo, Bouda, and Gruezo. Maybe this makes the match even, considering the Sounders’ injury woes.

You’d think at this point our quality would shine through. Even by the law of averages, we should be doing far better than we are. Within this narrative, we have learnt from our mistakes and also how to better deputise for injured players in this week’s training sessions, and can expect better come Saturday.

San Jose have lost all four league matches, and have yet to manage more than one goal in a match. In three of those contests, San Jose conceded two goals, and LA Galaxy managed three against them. If this form is their true level of quality, we have a decent chance to get a result.

The Bad News

We are currently tied for last in the league in goal scoring (with LAFC and Orlando), managing only two goals, and both of those penalty kicks. This point needs no further analysis.

In the Colorado match our support play was extremely spotty, and that’s a difficult way to maintain possession and generate quality chances at goal. Our build-up play was again, predictable and agonisingly slow. It has to get better. Soon.

We were generating more chances in our first two matches, but even that tailed off in the match against Colorado as we only managed three shots on frame. This is an extremely worrisome statistic against a re-building side like Colorado.

Assuming that Leo Chu and Rusnak are unavailable, we have 20 players for 18 slots, and three of those 20 are goalkeepers. Emergency call-ups from the Reserves, anyone?

Although Daniel and Marcinkowski are out for San Jose, they still have Yarbrough, and he’s a better than average goalkeeper. In addition, Rodrigues, Thompson, Skahan, Yueill, Ebobisse, Espinoza, and Pellegrino are all available for them. That’s bad news for us. Espinoza has sunk us with goals in the past, and Pellegrino is a proven finisher having won the Norwegian Eliteserien Golden Boot twice.

With Atencio suspended, Rusnak questionable at best, Vargas, Joao Paulo, Rodrigues, Baker-Whiting, and de la Vega out, this leaves only Kitahara and Leyva in midfield. Cristian can also play in a holding role, but the Gaffer likes him at right-forward. Alex’ natural position is midfield, but the Gaffer prefers him at right-back. We are extremely thin at midfield right now. This is relevant because our holding midfielders aid the back four in defence. The quality in our midfield is how we manage to, mostly, keep the ball out of the net.

Our league is using scab refs, MLS and PRO Referees are attempting to squelch any live reporting on it, and no one seems to care. That’s probably not good from a labour perspective. There is power in a union, true…just not in MLS apparently. How absolutely contemptible and sad for us all.

The Side I Would Select

Right. I’d select the best players that are actually healthy at every position. Back to the old 4-2-3-1 for me. I favour Baker at right-back because he’s a better two-way player than Alex. This gives me the chance to move Alex to the #10 position to take advantage of his passing skills. Alex was originally a midfield player. He converted to defence to find a place in the team. Cristian moves back into a holding role with Atencio suspended with Joao Paulo and Vargas out injured. With Leo Chu nursing a knee problem, it’s well past time to give Rothrock a run-out as Paul is capable and scored some timely goals for us last season. I list Ruidiaz to play on the right-inside, but you’d expect him to push up into something resembling what will likely be the Gaffer’s 4-4-2.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Baker

LDM    Leyva

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM    Alex

RF     Ruidiaz

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Likely will be that 4-4-2 shape again, although I wouldn’t rule out a 5-3-2 given that four first-choice midfielders are injured. Only question I can see is whether Rusnak is fit enough to play. If Rusnak can go, and the medics clear him, the Gaffer will play him. If Rusnak can’t get medical clearance, Kitahara has only one substitute appearance in the league for the Sounders despite being a professional with the club for six years. Kitahara has gotta be bursting at the seams to prove himself. If only he could get in the team. I charitably penciled in Rothrock at left-midfield so don’t be surprised if the Gaffer chooses to go to a back-five instead.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Arreaga

RB     Alex

LM     Rothrock

LCM    Leyva

RCM    Rusnak (if he passes a late fitness test)

RM     Cristian

LCF     Ruidiaz

RCF    Morris

Intangibles

Scab refs.

Seemingly the worst luck with finishing in the league.

General notes on personnel

San Jose transfers IN:

Judd (Los Angeles Galaxy) €182,000

Morales (New York City FC) free

Thompson - re-signed

Skahan - re-signed

Yarbrough (Colorado Rapids) free

Vitor Costa (CS Maritimo) unknown fee

Wilson (Vizela) free

Bieganski (Wisla Krakow) loan

Pellegrino (Bodo Glimt) €260,000

Ricketts - draft

San Jose transfers OUT:

Agren (IK Brage) free

Cilley (St. Louis City SC2) free

Judson (Avai FC) free

Monteiro (Gaziantep FK) free

Nathan (Seattle Sounders FC)

Tingey (Loudoun United) free

Trauco (Criciuma EC) free

Mensah (New England Revolution) free

Akinola (Toronto FC) end of loan

Hoppe (Middlesbrough FC) end of loan

Cowell (CD Guadalajara) €3.65M

Comparison against common opponents

Granted it’s pre-season results, so take this with a tonne of salt, but both clubs played against Sacramento Republic FC.

SJ1:1 SAC

SEA 0:1 SAC

SEA 4:0 SAC

Know Thine Enemy

The Quakes as they lined up in their 2:1 loss to Kansas City at State Avenue on 16 March.

GOALKEEPER

Daniel, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Internacional (68/0), San Jose Earthquakes (26/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Daniel de Sousa Britto. Developed by Uniao Rondonopolis and Internacional.

DEFENCE

Vitor Costa, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Bahia (17/2), Avai (20/0), Arouca (55/0), Aves (30/1), Lens (5/0), Maritimo (72/2), San Jose Earthquakes (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

Notes: Full Name: Vitor Costa de Brito.

Rodrigues, 26

Brazil

Notable Clubs: ABC (40/2), Gremio (54/0), San Jose Earthquakes (45/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Full name: Antonio Josenildo Rodrigues de Oliveira. Developed by ABC and Cruzeiro.

Bruno Wilson, 27

Portugal

Notable Clubs: Braga (7/1), Tondela (15/2), Tenerife (19/1), Vizela (57/1), San Jose Earthquakes (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €900,000

Notes: Full Name: Bruno Ricardo Valdez Wilson. Developed by Oeiras and Sporting Lisbon.

Paul Marie, 28

France

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (112/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by UA Saint-Sever, GRF Severin, Grab Sourdin, Avranches, and Caen. Played his university football for Newberry (16/4, NCAA II) and Florida International (52/14).

MIDFIELD

Amahl Pellegrino, 33

Norway

Notable Clubs: Baerum (68/33), Lillestrom (20/0), Mjondalen (70/28), Stromsgodset (39/4), Kristiansund (39/33), Damac (12/2), Bodo/Glimt (71/55), San Jose Earthquakes (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Drammen. Won two Norwegian Eliteserien titles with Bodo/Glimt. Won two Eliteserien Golden Boots 2021 (25 goals) and 2023 (24 goals). Named Eliteserien Player of the Year 2023.

Jackson Yueill, 27

United States (16/0)

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (182/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Played his university football for UCLA (40/9). Developed by Minnesota Thunder. Won CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with United States.

Carlos Gruezo, 28

Ecuador (55/1)

Notable Clubs: Independiente DV (4/0), Barcelona SC (77/3), VfB Stuttgart (18/1), FC Dallas (98/3), FC Augsburg (69/0), San Jose Earthquakes (32/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Union Deportiva Juvenil, LDU Quito, Defensor Sporting, and Independiente DV.  Won a Ecuadoran league title with Barcelona SC. Won an MLS league title and US Open Cup double with FC Dallas.

Cristian Espinoza, 28

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Huracan (90/9), Alaves (6/0), Valladolid (10/0), Boca Juniors (15/2), San Jose Earthquakes (157/28)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Huracan. Won an Argentine league title with Boca Juniors. Won an Argentinian Cup with Huracan.

FORWARD

Jeremy Ebobisse, 27

United States (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Charleston Battery (5/2), Portland Timbers (88/26), San Jose Earthquakes (83/28)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Produced by Bethesda SC. Played his university football for Duke (37/9).

Preston Judd, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3), San Jose Earthquakes (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

Notes: Developed by Las Vegas Academy. Played his university football for California Baptist (39/22), and Denver (19/7).

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

San Jose from:

Yarbrough, Bieganski, Beason, Vitor Costa, Marie, Munie, Ricketts, Rodrigues, Thompson, Verhoeven, Walls, Wilson, Mendoza, Morales, Skahan, Tsakiris, Yueill, Cowell, Ebobisse, Espinoza, Judd, Kikanovic, Pellegrino, Richmond.

Note: Baldisimo (Philippines), Bouda (Burkina Faso), Gruezo (Ecuador), Medina (United States U19s), and Ochoa (Mexico U20s) are all unavailable for selection. They have been called in to their respective national teams.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Chu, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

San Jose -

OUT: Akapo (foot), Marcinkowski (knee), Daniel (lower body, right, we’ll go ahead and speculate: chafed bollocks).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), de la Vega (hamstring), Frei (hamstring), Joao Paulo (hip), Rodrigues (hamstring), Vargas (head).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Chu (knee), Rusnak (ankle).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

San Jose: No players suspended.

Sounders FC: Atencio will serve a one-match ban for being booked twice in the same match last week.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves have gotten off on the good foot this season. Avenging their MLS Next Pro Cup Semi-Final ousting, by stuffing Austin FC II 1:3 on 15 March at Parmer Field. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Goals for the Reserves were scored by Stuart Hawkins, Faysal Bettache, and Enrique Katsaros. Well done, lads!

The Reserves will face Colorado Rapids 2 at Starfire on Sunday 24 March. Live-stream is set for 7 p.m. PDT and should be available through Apple TV and YouTube.