SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. San Jose Earthquakes, the legacy club with a massive identity crisis (Clash, Quakes, Dynamo, Quakes?), visit the Evergreen to face the Sounders FC in a midweek fixture. 

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

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Wednesday 18 September 2024 CE.

At Stake: Seeding for MLS Cup. Also Sounders haven’t beaten these since 2021. It would be a very bad look to lose to San Jose who currently are in 29th place, the rock-bottom of the MLS league table. Lastly, there’s also the Heritage Cup at stake, which is meaningful if you have any fucks to give about that.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. Remember that for home matches, Apple TV makes the KJR simulcast available in the control layer. Or you could opt to not change the audio and hear the commentary from Mike Rogondino and Heath Pearce. Spanish speakers may prefer to hear the commentary of Sergio Ruiz and Walter Roque, which is also accessible through the control layer of Apple TV.

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

Yeh, I know it’s a midweek fixture and our supporters have lives and careers outside of watching football at the ground. That said, you’re not going to want to miss this one. If there’s anything Sounders FC supporters are sick and tired of, it’s not being able to beat San Jose in the league. With Sounders entering a patch of good form, perhaps this is the night where it all comes ‘round. It would be supremely satisfying to beat this lot like a drum. Add to that a rivalry that goes back to NASL days, and you’ve got yourselves a volatile cocktail of mutual dislike.

Round up your mates and get ye to the ground. If that’s beyond your means, you know the drill. Pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings, houses and flats for pints and cats, pie and chips for boats and ships. What can I say? It’s time to get loud again, and welcome our close, personal friends from the South Bay to Green Hell.

It’s Sounders midweek football, under the lights at Royal Brougham Park. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

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

We’ve not managed a win in the last six in the league to San Jose. I guarantee you that makes the Gaffer all sorts of salty.

The Good News

Sounders have recovered nicely from their defeat at Morrison Street and have won both their matches since then.

With the exceptions of Joao Paulo and Leo Chu, we are healthy to a man, and have got Nouhou back from his time with the Cameroon.

Sounders’ home record has recently improved to 12-5-4 in all competitions. The Quakes, in stark contrast, are utterly woeful on the road, with a 2-2-13 record away from their Coleman Avenue ground providing ample evidence.

With Vargas (19 years old), Minoungou (22), Baker-Whiting (19), and De La Vega (23) getting meaningful minutes on Sunday, the Sounders showed a commitment to youth development. That is good to see, and I commend the coaching staff for it.

With Jack Skahan suspended and Cade Cowell sold to the Chivas, that’s two less good footballers we have to face midweek.

The Bad News

We haven’t beaten this lot in the league since a 0:1 victory at Coleman Avenue on 12 May 2021. Also, the Quakes have had an extra day of rest, whilst Sounders are on a two-day turn-around.

Morris is struggling with his finishing. Many chances on Sunday went begging. If this continues, we need another option at centre-forward/false-9.

When we last played San Jose on 23 March, Sounders overcame a 2:0 deficit at Coleman Avenue, equalising with late goals from Ruidiaz and Musovski, only for our defence to buckle one minute after Musovski’s equaliser, conceding Ebobisse’s winner on 82 minutes.

The main goal threats from San Jose are Pellegrino, who leads the line with six goals, followed by Ebobisse, Espinoza, and Lopez with four goals each. Espinoza is also the primary playmaker, leading the Quakes with 11 assists.

Victor Rivas will be the Referee for this match. The last Sounders match he presided over was our 1:1 draw against Vancouver on 18 May at Royal Brougham Park. To say the officiating was controversial would be a gross understatement. Jordan Morris’ 9th minute goal was overshadowed by four bookings handed out to Sounders players —  Vargas, Joao Paulo, and Nouhou was twice-booked for a sending-off. In addition, Scotland international Ryan Gauld hit a late equaliser in stoppage-time (95’). Laborda was the only player booked for the ‘Caps. At the time it felt super match-fixy, but it’s also possible that Rivas just had a bad match as Ref. You be the judge.

The Side I Would Select

It’s all about who played the full match on Sunday. For me, if they’re older players or nursing minor injuries, they need to not play two matches in four days’ time.

Rationale:

Frei played well on Sunday, but maybe an extra rest would be good, as the end of the league schedule is a bit compressed, with Sounders playing Houston, at Vancouver, and at Colorado over a period of seven days. As Nouhou is just returning and his last match with Cameroon was on 10 September, he should be fresh and ready to play. Bell, a Jamaica international, has been excellent this season when called upon and should spell Gomez Andrade to let the 31-year old Colombian centre-half rest his legs a bit. Rusnak could also use a respite, and Atencio should deputise quite well in his place. Ruidiaz has only been in the team 14 times this season, and should have fresh legs. In addition, Raul is a menace to San Jose, having hit nine goals against them over 13 matches during his time in Seattle. Everyone else in this list is either young enough to play two in a row, or a Roldan. The Gaffer claims the Roldan brothers are particularly durable and are capable of playing back to back matches in a short space of time.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Bell

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Atencio

RF     De La Vega

CF     Ruidiaz

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

This seems like a safe bet.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB    Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Minoungou

CF     Morris

Intangibles

The Referee for Wednesday night’s match will be Victor Rivas.

Sounders FC record in matches where Rivas is ref: 2-2-1

San Jose record in matches where Rivas is ref: 4-2-3

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

Hernan Lopez (Godoy Cruz) €5.5M

Jackson (MLS Pool) free

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

Bieganski (Wisla Krakow) loan terminated

Comparison against common opponents

DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

DAL 2:1 SJ

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

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG

SEA 3:1 LAG LC

SJ 1:3 LAG

LAG 4:3 SJ

SJ 0:3 LAG

SJ 1:2 LAG LC

(against LAG: SEA 1-1-1 +1, SJ 0-0-4 -7) edge SEA

SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

SJ 0:2 VAN

VAN 2:0 SJ

(against VAN: SEA 0-1-1 -2, SJ 0-0-2 -4) edge SEA

SKC 2:1 SEA

SEA 2:0 SKC

SKC 2:1 SJ

SJ 1:2 SKC

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

HOU 2:2 SEA

HOU 2:1 SJ

SJ 0:1 HOU

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

SEA 0:0 ATX
ATX 0:1 SEA

ATX 4:3 SJ

SJ 1:1 ATX

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

SEA 1:1 COL

SJ 0:3 COL

COL 2:3 SJ

(against COL: 0-1-0 0, SJ 1-0-1 -2) even

LAFC 2:1 SEA

SEA 0:3 LAFC

SEA 0:3 LAFC LC

SEA 0:1 LAFC USOC

SJ 3:1 LAFC

LAFC 6:2 SJ

LAFC 4:1 SJ LC

(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-4 -8, SJ 1-0-2 -5) edge SJ

POR 1:2 SEA

POR 1:0 SEA

POR 4:2 SJ

SJ 1:2 POR

(against POR: SEA 1-0-1 0, SJ 0-0-2 -3) edge SEA

STL 1:2 SEA

SEA 2:0 STL

STL 2:0 SJ

(against STL: SEA 2-0-0 +3, SJ 0-0-1 -2) edge SEA

SEA 2:1 CHI

SJ 1:0 CHI

(against CHI: SEA 1-0-0 +1, SJ 1-0-0 +1) even

SEA 2:0 MIN

SEA 2:0 MIN LC
MIN 2:3 SEA

MIN 2:0 SJ

SJ 1:2 MIN

(against MIN: SEA 3-0-0 +5, SJ 0-0-2 -3) edge SEA

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

RSL 0:2 SJ

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

SAC 1:2 SEA USOC

SAC 4:3 SJ USOC

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

SEA 1:3 NCX LC

SJ 5:0 NCX LC

(against NCX: SEA 0-0-1 -2, SJ 1-0-0 +5) edge SJ

Know Thine Enemy

San Jose as they lined up in their 2:0 defeat at Vancouver on 14 September.

GOALKEEPER

Daniel, 30

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Internacional (68/0), San Jose Earthquakes (29/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

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

DEFENCE

Paul Marie, 29

France

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (132/6)

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).

Tanner Beason, 27

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (107/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by North Carolina Fusion. Played his university football for Stanford (81/20).

Rodrigues, 26

Brazil

Notable Clubs: ABC (40/2), Gremio (54/0), San Jose Earthquakes (67/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

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

Carlos Akapo, 31

Equatorial Guinea (39/2)

Notable Clubs: Huracan (24/0), Numancia (29/0), Huesca (61/0), Cadiz (45/1), San Jose Earthquakes (43/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Kelme, Hercules, Elche, and Huracan.

Benji Kikanovic, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (95/14)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by Placer United. Played his university football for Sacramento State (34/9).

MIDFIELD

Jackson Yueill, 27

United States (16/0)

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (204/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

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

Niko Tsakiris, 19

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (44/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by De Anza Force, IMG Academy, and San Jose Earthquakes. Has played at youth levels for United States (9/4). Won a CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Won a CONCACAF U-20 Golden Ball in 2024.

FORWARD

Hernan Lopez, 24

Argentina

Notable Clubs: River Plate (1/1), Central Cordoba SdE (29/4), Godoy Cruz (46/7), San Jose Earthquakes (18/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5.5M

Notes: Developed by Pacifico Villa del Parque, Juventud de Devoto, Agronomia, Cultural de Tapiales, Argentinos Juniors, and River Plate.

Preston Judd, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3), San Jose Earthquakes (25/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

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

Cristian Espinoza, 29

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Huracan (90/9), Alaves (6/0), Valladolid (10/0), Boca Juniors (15/2), San Jose Earthquakes (181/32)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6M

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

Familiar Faces

San Jose Manager Ian Russell is a Seattle native and played for the Sounders (38/16) from 1998-99. Russell also played for the University of Washington.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, De la Vega, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Minoungou, Musovski, Rodrigues, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

San Jose from:

Yarbrough, Daniel, Thompson, Marie, Walls, Beason, Akapo, Rodrigues, Munie, Verhoeven, Gruezo, Espinoza, Yueill, Morales, Tsakiris, Medina, Mendoza, Lopez, Ebobisse, Bouda, Judd, Pellegrino.

Injury List

Sounders FC -

OUT: Joao Paulo (calf), Leo Chu (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

San Jose -

OUT: Baldisimo (lower body, we’ll say corns), Vitor Costa (lower body, we’ll say syphillis), Kikanovic (lower body, we’ll say ingrown pubic hairs), Marcinkowski (lower body, we’ll say excessive use of the Thigh-Master), Richmond (lower body, we’ll say dislocated penis), Ricketts (lower body, we’ll say…well…ricketts), Wilson (lower body, we’ll say bruised anus).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Judd (upper body, we’ll say abraded left nipple).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Nouhou out next match if booked.

San Jose: Skahan is suspended for accumulated bookings.

Fun Fact

The only active Sounders players that have scored on San Jose in the league are Ruidiaz (9 goals), Cristian Roldan (5 goals), Jordan Morris (5 goals), Danny Musovski (1 goal), and Joao Paulo (1 goal).