SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC travel southerly to visit the South Bay and within it, the city of San Jose. The only purpose for doing this is to play auld rivals and football team with an identity crisis: The San Jose Earthquakes…I mean Clash, I mean Earthquakes, I mean Houston Dynamo, I mean Earthquakes. It’s bloody exhausting, Fam.

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 29 March 2025 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league and, if you care, points in the Heritage Cup. [sigh] Sounders are currently 23rd in the league on 5 points. A win would put us, hopefully, in the region of solidly mid-table. This, of course, is entirely dependent on the results of other clubs. That’s really all there is at stake. It would require an abject failure of colossal proportions for Sounders to not qualify for MLS Cup. So, with us out of Champions Cup and window rapidly closing on being competitive for the League Championship, other than pride there’s not much in it.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. livesoccertv.com agrees.

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

I’ll keep this short and to the point. We’ve not beat these since 2021, and I don’t much care for that reality. Everything else in the world might be going to shite, so if the universe, such as it is, should see fit to give us a fighting chance, I’d really like for us to sort this lot.

Need a bit of sauce for the goose? San Jose have won the last three [grits teeth] Heritage Cups. So that’s…looking for a word here…not great.

We’ll have ample support at the match thanks to Fog Citeh. If you’re headed to the Bay, try and link up with those folks. More people equals more noise, so make the most of it. We’ll be listening for you on the telly. Look after each other in the wild. Tie your scarves proper. Make an absurd amount of noise and enjoy the 800 Billion foot bar at the Coleman Avenue ground.

It’s Sounders football, under the Saturday night lights at Coleman Avenue. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

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

“Get in. Get in. Get in. Get in. GET IN!!!”

The Good News

By the numbers, we’re doing all the right things. Over the two matches since the injuries at Estadio Olimpico Universitario, we’re having the bulk of possession, holding our own or dominating in shots taken, outpassing our opponents in volume and accuracy, winning more corner kicks, crossing the football more, and holding our own in aerial duels. Theoretically, if we keep it up, the goals will come.

We have Nouhou and Vargas back from their time with Cameroon and Mexico U-20s. Enough time has passed since their last matches that they should be fit for selection.

We’ve got Baker-Whiting back in the squad. It seems he’s fully recovered from his hamstring issue, and is available for selection.

The Bad News

We’re not finishing our chances and we need a backup centre-forward that Schmetzer trusts enough to be in the team. No amount of possession, statistical advantages, or changing up our shape can fix that.

New San Jose signings Josef Martinez (117 goals in 188 MLS league matches) and Cristian “Chicho” Arango (56 goals in 97 MLS league matches) are top strikers in MLS. They score goals on the regular, which we’re having trouble doing at present.

Our road form has been pretty much shite (1-0-3 in all competitions). In those matches we’ve conceded eight goals for an average of 2.00/match. With three straight fixtures and seven of the next nine away from home beginning with San Jose, this needs sorting.

The margins on goal scoring and defence for this match are razor-thin, so at least by the numbers it looks like results could go either way with a draw the statistically likely result.

There is an excellent chance we will be out-managed this match.

Matches as Manager of United States: Arena 130, Schmetzer 0

Victories in MLS league matches as Manager: Arena 264, Schmetzer 127

Honours as Manager:

Arena

5x MLS Cup

4x MLS League Champion

1x US Open Cup

1x CONCACAF Champions Cup (one of the ones that no one supposedly won before we did)

1x Interamerican Cup

3x CONCACAF Gold Cup

4x MLS Manager of the Year. 

Schmetzer 

2x USL Cup

2x USL League Champion

2x MLS Cup

1x CONCACAF Champions Cup

The Side I Would Select

I’d have these in yon olde 4-2-3-1.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rusnak

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Minoungou

CF     Musovski

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

The Gaffer will likely continue with his 5-3-2 that gets listed as a 3-4-3 Diamond. Expect Cristian to continue at right-forward ’til Pedro de la Vega returns to fitness.

GK     Frei

LB     Rothrock

LCH    Nouhou

CH     Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LM     Vargas

RM     Joao Paulo

LF     Rusnak

CF     Ferreira

RF     Cristian

Intangibles

Frustration.

Plenty of possession and strikes at goal against Houston. No goals though. It can sap the life out of you when you’re doing all the right things and not getting results from it.

Officiating.

Guido Gonzales Jr. will be Referee for Saturday night’s match.

SJ record with Gonzales Jr. as Ref: 0-3-5

SEA record with Gonzales Jr. as Ref: 1-1-1

Travel woes.

Sounders are 1-0-3 on the road this season, with their only win coming at Antigua FC of Guatemala.

Reclaiming our international players.

Will Nouhou and Vargas be rested enough after featuring for Cameroon and Mexico U-20s to play on Sat?

Coleman Avenue blues.

Sounders do not have the most successful history when visiting the South Bay. Sounders have only won five times in 18 matches all-time (in the MLS-era) when playing at San Jose (5-5-8).

Sea change at San Jose.

Since hiring Bruce Arena as their new Manager, San Jose has largely purged the core of their team, with Arena having five players brought in from his former club New England, plus Chicho Arango from Salt Lake and Josef Martinez from Montreal to score goals. Heads will roll, I guess. I wonder how that level of upheaval might affect the players that remained at San Jose.

General notes on personnel

San Jose transfers IN:

Harkes (New England Revolution) €157,000

Kaye (New England Revolution) €157,000

Romney (New England Revolution) €157,000

Lima (New England Revolution) free

Floriani - draft

Edwards Jr. (New England Revolution) €144,000

Arango (Real Salt Lake) €1.35M

Martinez (CF Montreal) free

Roberts - draft

Spivey - academy

Fernandez - draft

Leroux - reserves

Montali (Minnesota United FC) free

San Jose transfers OUT:

Akapo (Amazonas) free

Baldisimo - released

Beason (New England Revolution) free

Ebobisse (Los Angeles FC) free

Jackson (San Diego FC) draft

Marcinkowski (Los Angeles Galaxy) free

Morales (St. Louis City SC) free

Richmond - released

Thompson - released

Yarbrough - released

Walls - released

Yueill (New England Revolution) free

Ochoa (Cruz Azul) €1.9M

Gruezo (LDU Quito) free

Comparison against common opponents

SJ 4:0 RSL

RSL 2:0 SEA

CLT 4:1 SJ

SEA 2:2 CLT

Know Thine Enemy

San Jose as they lined up in their 4:1 defeat against Charlotte FC at Mint Street on 22 March.

GOALKEEPER

Daniel, 30

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Internacional (68/0), San Jose Earthquakes (39/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

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

DEFENCE

Jamar Ricketts, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (6/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €50,000

Notes: Developed by Cedar Stars Academy. Played his university football for Cal State Northridge (55/16).

Dave Romney, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (84/3), Nashville SC (87/4), New England Revolution (61/1), San Jose Earthquakes (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Irvine Strikers. Played his university football for San Francisco (72/5).

Bruno Wilson, 28

Portugal

Notable Clubs: Braga (7/1), Tondela (15/2), Tenerife (19/1), Vizela (57/1), San Jose Earthquakes (18/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

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

Nick Lima, 30

United States (9/0)

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (103/7), Austin FC (95/1), New England Revolution (25/1)

Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by San Jose Earthquakes. Played his university football for California (72/6).

MIDFIELD

Ian Harkes, 29

England

Notable Clubs: DC United (33/2), Dundee United (128/7), New England Revolution (36/3), San Jose Earthquakes (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Developed by DC United. Played his university football for Wake Forest (82/9). Won a Scottish Championship title (second-tier) with Dundee United.

Cristian Arango, 30

Colombia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Envigado (71/7), Millonarios (65/24), Aves (19/1), Tondela (16/1), Los Angeles FC (51/30), Pachuca (11/5), Real Salt Lake (41/23), San Jose Earthquakes (5/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7.5M

Notes: Developed by Envigado. Won Taca de Portugal with Aves. Named MLS Newcomer of the Year 2021. Won an MLS Cup and League double with LAFC in 2022.

Mark-Anthony Kaye, 30

Canada (42/2)

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles FC (77/9), Colorado Rapids (32/4), Toronto FC (29/2), New England Revolution (31/0), San Jose Earthquakes (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Wexford SC, Ajax SC, Glen Shields SC, Bryst SC, and Toronto FC. Played his university football for York (29/18). Produced by Toronto FC Academy and Wexford SC. Won a USL Cup with Louisville City in 2017. Won an MLS league championship with LAFC in 2019.

FORWARD

Ousseni Bouda, 24

Burkina Faso (7/2)

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (41/3), Monterey Bay FC (2/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Right to Dream Academy, Millbrook Mustangs, and Black Rock FC. Played his university football for Stanford (39/10). Amateur honours.

Preston Judd, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3), San Jose Earthquakes (30/1)

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 (192/32)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

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 coach Shalrie Joseph played for Sounders FC (10/1) in 2013.

Squads

San Jose from:

Daniel, Edwards, Montali, Ricketts, Marie, Wilson, Munie, Romney, Roberts, Lima, Floriani, Rodrigues, Eisner, Verhoeven, Vitor Costa, Harkes, Espinoza, Kaye, Medina, Skahan, Spivey, Tsakiris, Leroux, Mendoza, Pellegrino, Arango, Bouda, Martinez, Judd, Cowell.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Burney, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Sousa, Joao Paulo, Leyva, Cristian, Rusnak, Vargas, Ferreira, Minoungou, Musovski, Rothrock.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

San Jose -

OUT: Fernandez (lower body, we’ll say contused testicle), Kikanovic (lower body, we’ll say anal leakage), Lopez (upper body, we’ll say acute dandruff).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Tsakiris (lower body, we’ll say chronic tzatziki deficiency).

Sounders FC -

OUT: de la Vega (quadriceps), Morris (hamstring), Arriola (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players suspended from either squad.

Fun Fact

On the all-time Manager victories list for MLS, Bruce Arena, the current San Jose Manager is #1 with 264. #2 is Sigi with 240, RIP. Brian Schmetzer is #11, with 127.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. HOUSTON DYNAMO

“To investors and powerbrokers, the great appeal of stadium economics is that it so rarely functions like economics at all. Football fans do not behave like rational customers. Millions of people pay a significant portion of their increasingly stretched incomes to watch a football team mostly not win, for ever.

This blind loyalty, this guaranteed bottom line, is what makes football such an irresistible investment vehicle. But it also means the only way to secure the kind of exponential growth the modern investor demands is essentially to move these fans out, upgrade them, replace them with richer, less discerning consumers.”

– Jonathan Liew, The Guardian 18 March 2025

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Dinamo Houston leave the confines of Planet Texas and head to The Evergreen, of course after showing their papers to the Commissar in order to legally travel from state to state. They must’ve gotten the Texas equivalent of Real ID. It’s a re-match of last season’s MLS Cup first round. It’s match day in the Fatherland.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Houston Dynamo.

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

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 22 March 2025 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. A win would get Sounders FC closer to the top 10 than their current position, which is 20th place on four points. If the visitors beat us, and Nico plays a prominent role, that’s a bad look for our club for letting him get away.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. livesoccertv.com agrees.

Where to Listen: El Rey 1360 AM and Sounders FC Radio on iHeart Radio. Gotta wonder what happened to KJR here. I hope there will be alternate audio commentary, as I don’t enjoy watching us play at home whilst listening to the commentary of two blokes who know nothing about us that wasn’t on the game notes.

Well. Sounders hit the road for three matches after the Houston fixture. Soooooo pretty important to get the three points. That’s where you lot come in. Support is vital. This match is a genuine MLS league match. Not some crappy made up cash-grab like Leagues Cup. That means we gather up our mates and circles the wagons and try not to get dysentery…I mean ford the river…Fuck, I’m confusing this with the video game Oregon Trail. We gather our mates and link up at the pub, or at Pioneer Square, or at the ground. Then, after hitting the concessions for two tins of lager so’s you don’t have to leave in the middle of the first half, we make so much noise that Dinamo Houston wish they had stayed home in Siberi- I mean Texas.

It’s Sounders football, under the Saturday night lights of 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!!!”

Brian Schmetzer is fit for duty, minus his mullet, whatever was ailing him, whilst adding the better part of 35 years.

The Good News

Even with the injuries and national team call-ups, we still have the makings of a fine selection. With Frei, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Ragen, Alex, Joao Paulo, Cristian, Rusnak, Ferreira, and Rothrock available, I think it’s well within reason to expect a favourable result.

With about a week’s respite between matches for the foreseeable future (starting last week with St. Louis and rolling all the way through Houston away on 10 May), Brian Schmetzer will be able to select the best available team for each match. In layman’s terms, we solve the now problem whilst doing nothing about the future problems.

Having lost two matches in a row, Sounders FC will be keen to return to winning ways. Houston’s anaemic attack (0.75 goals/match over a sample size of four matches) may be just the tonic to help us get off the ropes.

Keep an eye on Sounders FC Reserves forward Yu Tsukanome. He scored a brace Thursday night against Washington Athletic Club in the US Open Cup, and scored a league goal against San Jose Earthquakes Reserves on 14 March.

The Gaffer allowed both Sousa and Hawkins to be in the team for the Reserves Thursday night in the US Open Cup. They needed the minutes, as they’re not getting them in the senior team. Perhaps Baker, Burney, Castro, and Leyva should also have been in the team, perhaps even Kim - rules permitting. Something to think about for the next round.

Sounders are still unbeaten at home (2-2-0), and are scoring nearly two goals per match (1.75/match over a sample of eight matches).

Houston have not yet won a match, and have yet to score more than one goal in a match. Houston are also conceding an average of two goals per match.

Seems like the Gaffer is feeling better, and will be back on the bench on Sat.

The Bad News

Seven matches in a row with a week between each of them also means that developmental minutes for our youngers will be few and far between, which is not so great. As the season grinds on, and fixture clutter increases due to Leagues Cup, we will need our youngers to have a decent level of match sharpness. Hopefully we can get our squad players minutes with the Sounders FC Reserves at the very least.

The absences of de la Vega, Morris, and Arriola will be deeply felt. Fortunately for us, we have the depth to cope for the moment, as there is no fixture clutter coming until 10-17 May, where Sounders will play Houston, LAFC, and Portland, all on the road in a span of eight days. We had bloody well better use the whole squad then, yeh?

I suspect the Gaffer will play Ferreira as a False-9, rather than as a #10 where he is more effective. If Danny Musovski is supposed to be cover for Morris at centre-forward, shouldn’t we find out if he’s fit to do the job? He seemed to do well enough in Mexico City, scoring a goal against a resolute Cruz Azul defence. If Musovski isn’t up to it, then we have to ask the question: Why is he in the squad?

Although it was good to see Freddy Juarez get a chance to sit in the big chair last week, it has to be asked: Why not Preki? In both his playing and coaching career, Juarez has only played and managed for American clubs. Preki was developed by Cukaricki, played for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, Everton and Portsmouth in England, and won three trophies as a player with Kansas City. When Preki was Manager for Sacramento Republic, their winning percentage was over 62%.

Sounders have only managed one goal in their last two matches, and conceded five. That is not sustainable in either the short or long term. This needs sorting.

The Side I Would Select

I’d put this lot out. Musovski got us a goal in Mexico City. He should be good for another one given a chance. I’d try Ferreira over Albert at the #10, with Albert moving to left-forward and Rothrock switching to the right side.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Leyva

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rusnak

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Rothrock

CF     Musovski

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I think you can expect pretty much who was in the team in St. Louis, playing five at the back again, with Ferreira as the False-9.

GK     Frei

LB     Rothrock

LCH    Ragen

CH     Gomez Andrade

RCH    Bell

RB     Alex

LCM    Joao Paulo

RCM    Cristian

LF     Rusnak

CF       Ferreira

RF     Minoungou

Intangibles

Officiating.

The referee for Saturday night’s match will be Allen Chapman.

Sounders FC record with Chapman as Ref: 14-5-8

Houston record with Chapman as Ref: 12-6-11

Nico factor.

Nico Lodeiro will play against us for the first time. Yet another in a series of unstable variables for Saturday’s match.

Morale.

Lots of players unavailable for selection. Seven if Gomez Andrade doesn’t return from his personal leave. Six even if he does. Two losses in a row in all competitions. One goal scored in the last two matches. It would be only human for a bit of nervousness to creep into the squad.

Houston’s poor form.

Houston are defending poorly and haven’t scored more than one goal in a match this season. They are averaging 0.75 goals/match and conceding 2.0 goals/match. Sounders FC could be overconfident. Houston might continue to bollux the job. A club with their backs to the wall can sometimes be the most difficult to play against.

Brougham bump.

Sounders are unbeaten at home this season in all competitions (2-2-0) and we have the best support in the league. Just what we need to kick back into form.

General notes on personnel

Houston transfers IN:

Maurer (FC Dallas) free

Steres - re-signed

Duenas (Los Angeles FC) free

Awodesu - reserves

McGlynn (Philadelphia Union) €2.04M

Urso (Charlotte FC) free

Gillingham (Flint City) free

Halliday (Orlando City SC) 2026 1st Round Draft Pick

Lodeiro (Orlando City SC) free

Holmes (Preston North End) free

Houston transfers OUT:

Gaines (New Mexico United) free

Gregus - released

Herrera (Toluca) free

Moreno (Gimnasia) free

Smith (FC Cincinnati) free

Sylla (Orange County SC) free

Valdez (Nashville SC) free

Blessing - released

Clark - released

Schmitt - released

Carrasquilla (UNAM Pumas) €3.4M

Sebastian Ferreira (Rosario Central) free

Sargeant (Lexington SC) loan

Valverde (Orense SC) loan

Micael (Palmeiras) €4.8M

Comparison against common opponents

RSL 2:0 SEA

HOU 1:2 RSL

Know Thine Enemy

Dinamo Houston as they lined up in their 1:2 loss against Salt Lake at Walker Street on 15 March.

GOALKEEPER

Andrew Tarbell, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (41/0), Columbus Crew (7/0), Austin FC (5/0), Houston Dynamo (9/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Played his university football for Clemson (56/0). Won an MLS Cup with Columbus. Won a US Open Cup with Houston.

DEFENCE

Griffin Dorsey, 26

United States

Notable Clubs: Toronto FC (2/0), Houston Dynamo (102/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Colorado Rush SC. Played his university football for Indiana (44/8). Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.

Ethan Bartlow, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Houston Dynamo (62/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Played his university football for Washington (38/6). Developed by Crossfire Premier. Played for United States at youth levels (3/0). Won a US Open Cup with Houston.

Obafemi Awodesu, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: Houston Dynamo (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: not listed

Notes: Developed by FC Delco and Philadelphia Union.

Franco Escobar, 30

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (41/0), Atlanta United FC (63/2), Los Angeles FC (19/1), Houston Dynamo (56/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys. Won an MLS Cup, US Open Cup, and Campeones Cup with Atlanta United. Won an MLS league title and MLS Cup double with Los Angeles FC. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.

MIDFIELD

Jack McGlynn, 21

United States (3/1)

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (99/7), Houston Dynamo (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by Blau-Weiss Gottschee and Philadelphia Union. Won a CONCACAF U20 Championship with United States. Has played for United States at youth levels (37/2).

Artur, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Sao Paulo FC (4/0), Columbus Crew SC (138/2), Houston Dynamo (72/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Full name: Jose Artur de Lima Junior. Developed by Bahia, Juventus-SC, and Sao Paulo. Won an MLS Cup and Campeones Cup with Columbus Crew SC. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.

Nicolas Lodeiro, 35

Uruguay (60/5)

Notable Clubs: Nacional (43/9), Ajax (21/2), Botafogo (47/7), Corinthians (7/0), Boca Juniors (30/6), Seattle Sounders FC (191/41), Orlando City SC (34/1), Houston Dynamo (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Barrio Obrero and Nacional. Won four league titles with Nacional. Won two Dutch Eredivisie titles and a Dutch Cup with Ajax. Won an Argentinian league title and a Copa Argentina with Boca Juniors. Won two MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Champions League with Seattle Sounders FC. Won a Copa America with Ururguay. Named MLS Newcomer of the Year 2016. Named to CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2018 and 2022. Named to MLS Best XI 2020.

FORWARD

Sebastian Kowalczyk, 26

Poland

Notable Clubs: Pogon Szczecin (169/19), Houston Dynamo (45/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Salos Szczecin and Pogon Szczecin. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo (although he played no matches in that 2023 tournament).

Ezequiel Ponce, 27

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (27/5), Granada (25/2), Lille (32/2), AEK Athens (56/31), Spartak Moscow (59/19), Elche (47/5), Houston Dynamo (14/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys.

Amine Bassi, 27

Morocco

Notable Clubs: AS Nancy (106/24), FC Metz (9/0), Barnsley (15/2), Houston Dynamo (63/14)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by US Bezons, Racing Club de France, Epinal, and AS Nancy. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.

Familiar Faces

Houston midfielder Nico Lodeiro played for Seattle Sounders FC (191/41), winning two MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Champions League.

Houston defender Ethan Bartlow played his university football for UW (38/6) and youth football for Crossfire Redmond (10/0). Bartlow is a native of Woodinville, Washington.

Houston defender Daniel Steres was selected by the Sounders FC in the 2012 MLS Waiver Draft. Steres never played a match for the first-team.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker, Bell, Burney, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Ragen, Alex, Sousa, Joao Paulo, Leyva, Cristian, Rusnak, Ferreira, Minoungou, Musovski, Rothrock.

Note: I’ve left Travian Sousa and Stuart Hawkins in the squad list, but they both played for the Sounders FC Reserves in their 3:1 US Open Cup victory Thursday night, and are likely unavailable for selection. If they do play a role in this match, expect it to be a short stint as substitutes near the end of the match.

Houston from:

Maurer, Gillingham, Steres, Escobar, Dorsey, Halliday, Bartlow, Sviatchenko, Sargeant, Awodesu, Lodeiro, Artur, Junior Urso, Duenas, Kowalczyk, Valverde, Holmes, Segal, Bassi, Aliyu, Gyamfi, Arzu, Ponce.

National Team Call-Ups

Sounders FC: Nouhou (Cameroon), Vargas (Mexico U-20s).

Houston: McGlynn (United States), Raines (United States U-20s), Rodriguez (Mexico U18s).

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), de la Vega (quadriceps), Morris (hamstring), Arriola (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Houston -

OUT: Ennali (knee), Holmes (leg), Quinones (knee), Tarbell (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Sviatchenko (lower body, with such a vague diagnosis, we’ll go ahead and speculate and say sprained penis).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players from either squad are suspended.

Fun Fact

On Saturday, club honours will be bestowed on Nico Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, and Jordan Morris:  Lodeiro for the quality of his long service to the Sounders FC (95 goals and 58 assists in all competitions + 2 MLS Cups and 1 CONCACAF Champions League), Roldan for his 353rd appearance for the club which took place at St. Louis last week, and Morris for becoming the all-time goals leader for the Sounders FC in all competitions with 87 (per Sounders FC Communications).