Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. San Diego FC travel north to The Evergreen to face our Sounders in a midweek league fixture.
What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. San Diego FC.
Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
When: 5:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Wednesday 28 May 2025 CE.
At Stake: Points in the league. Sounders are currently in 12th place in the MLS league table, eight points adrift of leaders Vancouver. Should Sounders be victorious, we could rise as high as 9th place, provided MIN (@VAN) are defeated, and NYC (HOU), and MIA (MTL) do no better than a draw. Should we be defeated, we could be surpassed by POR (COL), CLT (@NYRB), COL (@POR), and NYRB (CLT). There’s also a bit of pride at stake as we were battered 3:0 when we visited San Diego on 5 April.
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
If you have the means and inclination, you could head down to Royal Brougham Park on Wednesday and show San Diego FC the same warm hospitality that they shown us nearly two months ago.
If recent results are any indication, the lads could use some chuffing up. So there’s that to consider. It’s midweek football on an early evening start 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!!!”
Just recently cleared to play, I wonder if we’ll see Ragen as a substitute on Wednesday night.
The Good News
Sounders still unbeaten at home (5-3-0).
Musovski and Ragen have regained fitness and are eligible for selection. Even though you’ll likely see them as substitutes, if at all, it’s good to have them back in the squad.
Although Sounders are currently 12th in the league and San Diego are in 4th place, only two wins separate the clubs. We’re about to find out if they’re eight places better than us.
San Diego’s away form is three won and three lost (3-0-3), so this could be an exploitable weakness. In addition, San Diego have five players on injury list, including Willy Kumado who has played in 14 of 15 matches this season, which could hamper them.
If you look at our record as a whole, we’re doing quite well (6-5-4).
Sounders did control the bulk of possession in our last meet up with San Diego. We exceeded our hosts in most statistical categories, and we didn’t have our best centre-forward in the team that day. So maybe a better result this time.
The Bad News
By the numbers the result is likely a crapshoot. The differences in the ability of both clubs to score goals and prevent them are marginal.
As far as attacking play is concerned, I don’t think Sounders have the equivalent of Mexico international Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, whose estimated transfer fee is €12M. United States international Luca De La Torre also has bags of quality, having played 60 times with Celta Vigo in La Liga and over 60 times with Heracles Almelo of the Dutch Eredivisie.
Sounders have only scored two goals in the last three matches whilst conceding five goals.
It’s not Sounders struggle for good results that’s been the problem since 2023. The problem has been that’s we’ve struggled to get good results against good teams. Sounders FC as currently constructed will get you a top 10 finish in the league, but have not won a trophy since 2022.
The Side I Would Select
As we’ve scored only three goals in the past three matches, I’d say it’s past time to shake things up a bit. Bell and Hawkins to give old men Gomez Andrade and Kim a rest. Kossa-Rienzi because pace and he’s an attacking threat. Vargas as the #6, Rusnak as the #8 with the freedom to go forward. Rothrock because he’s a gritty competitor, scores goals, and also can create. Ferreira at the #10 because I rate him over Albert in that position. De la Vega because he’s young, technical, and can score and create goals. De Rosario because he will score a hatful of goals if you give him the chances to, and the Sounders’ attack is based on crosses into the box. This would also just generally be a younger and faster lineup. So this lot in the 4-2-3-1.
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Bell
RCH Hawkins
RB Kossa-Rienzi
LDM Vargas
RDM Rusnak
LF Rothrock
CAM Ferreira
RF de la Vega
CF De Rosario
The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select
Expect the same lot as last match, barring injuries. With Ragen and Musovski just cleared to play, expect to see them as substitutes, if at all.
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Kim
RCH Bell
RB Alex
LDM Vargas
RDM Cristian
LF Kent
CAM Rusnak
RF de la Vega
CF Ferreira
Intangibles
Officiating.
The Referee for Wednesday’s match will be Ismir Pekmic.
Sounders FC record with Pekmic as Ref: 1-1-2
San Diego record with Pekmic as Ref: 0-0-0
Royal Brougham Park is a fortress.
Still unbeaten at home this season (5-3-0).
Revenge factor.
We were embarrassed 3:0 at Cottonwood Lane. The balance must be addressed against the upstarts from San Diego.
We are being left behind.
San Diego FC total transfer spend 2025: €19.14M (Including €12M for Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, and excluding the €87,000 loan fee for Oscar Verhoeven).
Sounders FC total transfer spend 2025: €1.45M
Mikey Varas.
As it turns out, the Manager for San Diego FC was responsible for some hot-shot kids that come out of the FC Dallas academy, when he was Manager of their U-16s. Varas also was Manager for the Yanks U-20s from 2021-2023 during which time they won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Varas was a manager with De Anza Force, a prominent club in domestic youth football. The man has chops. That’s a problem for us, I’d say.
General notes on personnel
San Diego transfers IN:
Feree (Orange County SC) end of loan
Ingvartsen (FC Nordsjaelland) undisclosed
Tverskov (FC Nordsjaelland) undisclosed
Lozano (PSV Eindhoven) €12M
McNair (West Bromwich Albion) end of loan
Mighten (Nottingham Forest) undisclosed
Angel (Los Angeles FC) €190,000
dos Santos (CF Inter Miami) €95,000
McVey (DC United) €48,000
Bruseth (Orlando City SC) expansion draft
Diop (Charlotte FC) expansion draft
Loffelsend (Colorado Rapids) expansion draft
Reyes (New York RB) €764,000
Jackson (San Jose Earthquakes) re-entry draft
Godoy (Nashville SC) free
Duah - draft
Sisniega (San Antonio FC) free
Saidi (Philadelphia Union) €97,000
Boateng (New England Revolution) €193,000
Negri (CF Inter Miami) re-entry draft
Valakari (Pafos FC) loan fee €250,000
Alvarado (FC Vizela) free
de la Torre (Celta Vigo) loan
Dreyer (RSC Anderlecht) €5.5M
Pilcher - draft
Kumado (Lyngby BK) undisclosed
Bombino (Los Angeles FC) loan
Iloski (FC Nordsjaelland) loan
Verhoeven (San Jose Earthquakes) loan €87,000 fee
San Diego transfers OUT:
Thiago Andrade (Toronto FC) €240,000
Kijima (DC United) €380,000
Comparison against common opponents
SEA 2:2 CLT
CLT 3:0 SD
(against CLT: SEA 0-1-0 0, SD 0-0-1 -3) edge SEA
RSL 2:0 SEA
RSL 1:3 SD
SD 1:3 RSL
(against RSL: SEA 0-0-1 -2, SD 1-0-1 0) decisive edge SD
SEA 5:2 LAFC
LAFC 4:0 SEA
SD 3:2 LAFC
(against LAFC: SEA 1-0-1 -1, SD 1-0-0 +1) marginal edge SD
STL 1:0 SEA
SEA 4:1 STL
SD 0:0 STL
STL 1:2 SD
(against STL: SEA 1-0-1 +2, SD 1-1-0 +1) even
DAL 0:1 SEA
SEA 1:0 DAL
SD 5:0 DAL
(against DAL: SEA 2-0-0 +2, SD 1-0-0 +5) even
COL 1:1 SEA
COL 3:2 SD
SD 2:0 COL
(against COL: SEA 0-1-0 0, SD 1-0-1 +1) edge SD
Know Thine Enemy
San Diego as they lined up in their 2:1 victory over LA Galaxy on 24 May at Cottonwood Lane.
GOALKEEPER
CJ dos Santos, 24
United States
Notable Clubs: CF Inter Miami (2/0), San Diego FC (15/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €125,000
Notes: Developed by Foxchase SC, Philadelphia SC, FC Delco, Philadelphia Union, and Benfica. Won an MLS league championship and a Leagues Cup with CF Miami.
DEFENCE
Luca Bombino, 18
United States
Notable Clubs: San Diego FC (9/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000
Notes: Developed by Los Angeles FC. Played at youth levels for United States (6/0).
Christopher McVey, 28
Sweden
Notable Clubs: Elfsborg (32/0), Inter Miami CF (50/1), DC United (27/1), San Diego FC (15/2)
Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000
Notes: Developed by Sparsors AIK and Elfsborg. Won a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF.
Paddy McNair, 30
Northern Ireland (73/7)
Notable Clubs: Manchester United (24/0), Sunderland (25/5), Middlesbrough (198/14), West Bromwich Albion (2/0), San Diego FC (14/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €3M
Notes: Developed by Ballyclare Colts and Manchester United. Won an FA Cup with Manchester United.
Willy Kumado, 22
Ghana
Notable Clubs: Nordsjaelland (2/0), Lyngby (53/0), San Diego FC (14/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €1M
Notes: Developed by Right to Dream Academy and Nordsjaelland.
MIDFIELD
Luca de la Torre, 27
United States (24/1)
Notable Clubs: Fulham (7/0), Heracles Almelo (64/2), Celta Vigo (60/1), San Diego FC (15/3)
Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M
Notes: Developed by Nomads, San Diego Surf, and Fulham. Won a CONCACAF Nations League with United States.
Jeppe Tverskov, 32
Denmark
Notable Clubs: Lyngby (36/1), Randers (38/3), Odense BK (210/8), FC Nordsjaelland (47/5), San Diego FC (15/1)
Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000
Notes: Developed by B 1903 and Lyngby.
Anibal Godoy, 35
Panama (147/4)
Notable Clubs: Chepo (113/10), Honved (24/1), San Jose Earthquakes (101/5), Nashville SC (111/3), San Diego FC (14/1)
Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000
Notes: Produced by Chepo.
FORWARD
Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, 29
Mexico (70/18)
Notable Clubs: Pachuca (120/31), PSV Eindhoven (93/44), Napoli (120/23), San Diego FC (12/5)
Estimated Transfer Value: €12M
Notes: Developed by Pachuca and Titanes. Won a Liga MX title and a CONCACAF Champions League with Pachuca. Won two Dutch Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven. Won a Serie A and Coppa Italia with Napoli. Twice named Liga MX Best XI. Named Liga MX Best Attacking Midfielder 2015-16. Won 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot (8 goals). Named CONCACAF Champions League Best Young Player 2016-17. Named to Dutch Eredivisie Team of the Season 2017-18. Named to UEFA Champions League Breakthrough Team 2018. Named CONCACAF Men’s Player of the Year 2018.
Anders Dryer, 27
Denmark (3/0)
Notable Clubs: Esbjerg fB (41/20), St. Mirren (10/1), SC Heerenveen (11/1), Midtjylland (79/28), Ruben Kazan (14/8), RSC Anderlecht (69/26), San Diego FC (15/6)
Estimated Transfer Value: €8M
Notes: Developed by Ribe BK, Bramming BK, and Esbjerg fB. Won a Danish 1st Division promotion play-off with Esbjerg fB. Won a Danish Superliga and Danish Cup with Midtjylland.
Alex Mighten, 23
United States
Notable Clubs: Nottingham Forest (56/4), Sheffield Wednesday (9/1), KV Kortrijk (10/0), Port Vale (10/0), San Diego FC (11/1)
Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000
Notes: Developed by Arnold Town and Nottingham Forest. Won an EFL Championship promotion play-off with Nottingham Forest.
Familiar Faces
None.
Squads
Sounders FC from:
Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Burney, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Sousa, Joao Paulo, Leyva, Cristian, Rusnak, Vargas, de la Vega, De Rosario, Ferreira, Kent, Minoungou, Musovski, Rothrock.
San Diego from:
Dos Santos, Sisniega, Jackson, McNair, Loffelsend, Negri, Pilcher, Bombino, Verhoeven, McVey, Tverskov, Valakari, De La Torre, Bruseth, Godoy, Duah, Alvarado, Angel, Dreyer, Lozano, Saidi, Iloski, Mighten.
Injury List
(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)
Sounders FC -
OUT: Gomez Andrade (hamstring), Morris (hamstring), Arriola (knee).
MATCHDAY DECISION: none.
San Diego -
OUT: Kumado (lower body, we’ll say scurvy), Diop (lower body, we’ll say sprained penis), Ingvartsen (lower body, we’ll say ingrown pubic hair), Boateng (lower body, we’ll say chlamydia), Reyes (lower body, we’ll say chapped testicles).
MATCHDAY DECISION: none.
Discipline
(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)
Sounders FC: No players suspended.
San Diego: Negri and Tverskov out next match if booked.
Fun Fact
Sounders FC Reserves are currently in 10th place in the MLS Next Pro league table, 12 points adrift of leaders Chattanooga. The Reserves next match will be played on 31 May at Starfire, hosting Minnesota United Reserves with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PDT. Make us proud, lads.
