SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. SAN DIEGO FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. San Diego travel north from the land of head-sized cheeseburgers, tasty waves, and the most well-known iteration of Comic-Con to visit us here in The Evergreen. We shall try to repay in kind the hospitality they showed us last April at Cottonwood Lane when they hit three past us in the first 48 minutes. Yeh. We haven’t forgotten.

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

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

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 9 May 2026 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. Should Sounders be victorious, they could rise as high as 4th place if Houston win at LAFC. Should our result be a draw or loss against San Diego, Minnesota United could overtake with a draw or win (v.ATX), whilst New England (v.PHI), Salt Lake (@DAL), and Miami (@TOR) could overtake with victories. In the worst possible scenario Sounders could fall to as far as 9th place. Sounders are currently 5th in the MLS league table on 20 points, eight points adrift of leaders San Jose.

Where to Watch: Apple TV. Remember that you have the option of listening to a KJR simulcast by activating the alternate audio button in the Apple TV control layer and selecting Seattle Home Radio. This is my favourite feature that Apple TV provides though I wish this option was available for away fixtures as well.

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The 2026 version of the San Diego doesn’t look nearly as intimidating as they did last season. They haven’t won in the league since a 0:1 result on 7 March at Kansas City, and their last win overall (3:2) was on 11 March with Toluca the visitor.

In their most recent test, San Diego squandered a 2:0 advantage, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Ryan Hollingshead of LAFC. Winless in their last eight in the league, and in their last nine overall. Wot a mess. Expect them to come out hard, as the season is starting to slip away from them.

As far as our footballing affairs go, we had a bit of a hiccup at Kansas City, but in the end managed to preserve a draw. With that result firmly in the rear-view, I’m certain that our Boys in Green ran their socks off in training this week to prepare for our close, personal friends from Southern California.

With all that said, it’s time to welcome our guests to Green Hell. If you have the time and means, get ye to the ground and link up with ours and check to see your scarves are tied proper. Then get started making an ungodly racket the likes of which that lot have never heard. For those of us not able to attend for whatever reason, we should link up with mates and share in the “human drama of athletic competition” on the telly. Pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. You lot know what to do.

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!!!”

WE’VE GOT ROTHROCK / SUPER PAUL ROTHROCK / I JUST DON’T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND / HE PLAYS IN BLUE AND GREEN / HE’S A GOAL MACHINE / WE’VE GOT SUPER PAUL ROTHROCK! (photo credit: en.parisfans.fr)

The Good News

Sounders are having a very, very good run so far this season. Even though we were eliminated from CONCACAF, Tigres had to manage it on away goals, and we nearly stole the tie from them in the home leg. Sounders are 9-2-2 in all competitions and have the best defence in MLS having conceded only five goals in nine matches (0.56 goals conceded/match). We have accomplished this despite spending less than, I think, any other team in the league and certainly much less than Tigres who outspent us by €8M in transfer fees paid.

Sounders are 3-1-1 in their last five matches and haven’t lost since 8 April at El Volcan. In the league we haven’t lost a match since 28 February in the rarefied thin air of the Salt Lake’s State Street football ground. Conversely, San Diego have seen their season spin out of control, watching a 3-0-0 start in the league turn into a winless slide of 0-3-5 in their next eight league fixtures. Although San Diego defeated Toluca and Pumas in the home legs of their CONCACAF Champions Cup ties, San Diego were then shut out in both away legs. San Diego’s record this season in all competitions is 5-3-7.

San Diego does not travel well. The visitors have a 1-1-5 record on the road in all competitions, 1-1-3 in the league. Add to that the fact that Royal Brougham Park is one of the most difficult football grounds for away sides in the league, and the forecast looks rather sunny for ours.

Although the opposition score at a marginally higher average than we do (+0.11 goals/match), Their defence is bleeding goals at the same time. San Diego have scored 26 goals whilst conceding 27 in 15 matches in all competitions, 19 scored and 19 conceded in 11 league matches. It would appear that a tight match, with less margin for error, favours Sounders and their league-leading defence.

San Diego’s two most experienced goalkeepers, CJ dos Santos and Sisniega, are both out due to injury. This is a difficult hardship to overcome at such a critical position, and should provide a noteworthy advantage to our Boys in Green.

Sounders have a very balanced attack led by Paul Rothrock (4 goals, 1 assist in the league, and and additional 2 goals scored in the CONCACAF Champions Cup), Cristian Roldan (3 goals) is next, followed by Albert Rusnak (2 goals, 3 assists + 2 goals in the CCC). Jesus Ferreira (1 goal, 5 assists) has been the best play maker in the side. Paul Arriola and Danny Musovski scored two goals each in the CCC. Our opposition have no idea where the goals are going to come from. This is an immense advantage for us.

Stuart Hawkins, Kim Kee-Hee, and Ryan Sailor have all returned to fitness. When we have Gomez Andrade back, our back four will be at full strength again. We’ll also be better off for our players who gained valuable experience deputising in defence when most of our centre-halves were still on injury list.

The Bad News

San Diego have some high level talent in Marcus Ingvartsen (7 goals, 2 assists), Anders Dreyer (5 goals, 6 assists, rated at an estimated transfer value of €15M), Onni Valakari (3 goals, 2 assists). David Vazquez really shined for them in the CCC scoring 3 goals in the tournament.

San Diego are struggling and few things motivate players more than a terrible stretch of form. This makes them dangerous opponents, much as bottom of table Kansas City were highly motivated to get a result last Sat.

San Diego feature more young talent than we do with an average age of 26.1 in the team when they lined up last week against LAFC, and for the most part, we are an ageing squad with eight players age 30 or higher.

Dropping points at bottom of table Kansas City is concerning. Every team has a clunker now and again, and although we were able to hold onto a point we must hope that that disappointment isn’t the start of a more negative trend.

The fact that Pedro de la Vega has been unable to return to fitness since his injury at Seaver Way in Flushing on 18 October 2025 is extremely concerning. Even more concerning is that we’ve heard no word that I know of regarding the progress of his rehabilitation. We’re going to need him when the true fixture clutter starts, likely caused by Leagues Cup fixtures and the FIFA World Cup break.

Due to the idiotic rules of MLS Next Pro, Sounders FC Reserves were granted three points for a draw against Kansas City Reserves. So yeh, we’ll take the three points. In hindsight though: I don’t think teaching young footballers that you don’t really have to score more goals to earn a victory, because you can get three points from a penalty kick tie-breaker in a league match, is not particularly helpful for youth development systems in this country.

The Side I Would Select

With matches pretty evenly spaced, and plenty of recovery time, everyone should be available. With Kim, Sailor, and Hawkins returned to fitness, it might be time to have them on as substitutes to evaluate their sharpness and ability to contribute in the near future, should the match provide opportunities for this.

Rationale:

Lopez over Alex at right-centre-half until Gomez Andrade regains fitness. I favour Lopez at centre-half for several reasons. He’s younger, a bit heavier, a bit taller, and also it’s his primary position. Alex to spell Kossa-Rienzi, just to rest Kalani for a match. I like Morris on the right with Musovski leading the line. The rest as you’d expect.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH     Ragen

RCH    Lopez

RB     Alex

LDM    Brunell

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Musovski

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

The Gaffer has a bit of a quandry. In Rusnak and Ferreira he has two quality #10s. In the past, he’s opted to play Ferreira on the right, but with Morris healthy and in good form, and Rothrock scoring a hatful of goals, who is the odd man out? I predict Schmetzer will continue to play Alex at centre-half, though I fear we will eventually pay a price for this down the road.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Alex

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Brunell

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CAM   Musovski

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s match is Armando Villarreal.

SEA record with Villarreal as Ref: 7-5-3

SD record with Villarreal as Ref: 0-0-1

SEA 2026 transfer fees paid: €0

SD 2026 transfer fees paid: €3.5M

General notes on personnel

San Diego transfers in:

Bombino (Los Angeles FC) €173,000

Verhoeven (San Jose Earthquakes) €304,000

Valakari (Pafos) €1.5M

Vazquez (Philadelphia Union) €215,000

Morgan (New York RB) €383,000

Sargeant (Houston Dynamo) undisclosed

Eisner (San Jose Earthquakes) free

Soe (Boldklubben af 1893) €500,000

Duke (CF Montreal) free

Zamble (Right to Dream Academy) free

Jackson (FC Dallas) free

San Diego transfers OUT:

Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) end of loan

Negri (Houston Dynamo) free

Bruseth (Kristiansund BK) free

McNair (Hull City) undisclosed

Angel (America de Cali) free

Duru (Blackburn Rovers) end of loan

Comparison against common opponents

RSL 2:1 SEA

SD 2:2 RSL

RSL 4:2 SD

(against RSL: SEA 0-0-1 -1, SD 0-1-1 -2) even

STL 0:1 SEA
SEA 4:1 STL

SD 2:0 STL

(against STL: SEA 2-0-0 +4, SD 1-0-0 +2) decisive edge SEA

SJ 0:1 SEA

SJ 3:0 SD

(against SJ: SEA 1-0-0 +1, SD 0-0-1 -3) decisive edge SEA

MIN 0:0 SEA

SD 1:2 MIN

(against MIN: SEA 0-1-0 0, SD 0-0-1 -1) marginal edge SEA

HOU 0:1 SEA

HOU 1:0 SD

(against HOU: SEA 1-0-0 +1, SD 0-0-1 -1) decisive edge SEA

SEA 2:1 DAL

DAL 3:3 SD

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

SKC 1:1 SEA

SKC 0:1 SD

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

Know Thine Enemy

San Diego as they lined up against LAFC in their 2:2 draw at Cottonwood Lane on 2 May.

GOALKEEPER

CJ dos Santos, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Inter Miami CF (2/0), San Diego FC (31/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Full name: Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos. Developed by Foxchase SC, Philadelphia SC, FC Delco, Philadelphia Union, and Benfica. Won an MLS league title and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF.

DEFENCE

Luca Bombino, 19

United States

Notable Clubs: San Diego FC (34/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Los Angeles FC. Has played for United States (16/0) at youth levels.

Manu Duah, 20

Ghana

Notable Clubs: San Diego FC (24/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Santa Barbara SC. Played his university football at Santa Barbara (14/0).

Christopher McVey, 29

Sweden

Notable Clubs: Elfsborg (32/0), Inter Miami CF (50/1), DC United (27/1), San Diego FC (41/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Sparsors AIK and Elfsborg. Won a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF.

Oscar Verhoeven, 19

United States

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (7/0), San Diego FC (24/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by San Jose Earthquakes. Has played for United States (23/0) at youth levels.

MIDFIELD

David Vazquez, 20

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (1/0), San Diego FC (14/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €250,000

Notes: Developed by Total Futbol Academy and Philadelphia Union. Has played for United States (28/4) at youth levels.

Anibal Godoy, 36

Panama (159/4)

Notable Clubs: Chepo (113/10), Honved (24/1), San Jose Earthquakes (101/5), Nashville SC (111/3), San Diego FC (36/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €100,000

Notes: Full name: Anibal Casis Godoy Lemus. Developed by Arsenal de Sarandi and Chepo.

Onni Valakari, 26

Finland (15/1)

Notable Clubs: TPS Turku (29/10), SalPa (2/0), Tromso (42/9), Pafos (136/40), AIK Stockholm (10/2), San Diego FC (45/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Kapylan Pallo and SJK. Won a Cypriot Cup with Pafos. Won a Finnish Ykkonen (2nd Division) league title with TPS Turku.

FORWARD

Amahl Pellegrino, 35

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 (45/8), San Diego FC (15/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

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.

Marcus Ingvartsen, 30

Denmark (1/1)

Notable Clubs: Nordsjaelland (119/44), Genk (29/5), Union Berlin (60/8), Mainz 05 (54/16), San Diego FC (19/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Farum. Won a Belgian league title with Genk. Named Danish Young Player of the Year 2016. Won a Danish league Golden Boot (23 goals) for Nordsjaelland in 2016-17.

Anders Dryer, 28

Denmark (9/3)

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 (45/24)

Estimated Transfer Value: €15M

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. Named MLS Newcomer of the Year 2025. Named to MLS Best XI 2025.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Hawkins, Kossa-Rienzi, Kim, Lopez, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Sailor, Brunell, Dotson, Gomez, Kingston, Cristian, Rusnak, Arriola, De Rosario, Ferreira, Morris, Musovski, Rothrock, Tsukanome.

San Diego from:

Ferree, Jackson, Reyes, Sargeant, Soe, Eisner, Pilcher, Bombino, Verhoeven, McVey,  Valakari, Soma, Vazquez, Godoy, Duah, Alvarado, Ingvartsen, Dreyer, Zamble, Duke, Saidi, Mighten, Pellegrino.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

OUT: Petkovic (knee), Gomez Andrade (hamstring), de la Vega (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

San Diego -

OUT: Boateng (lower body, we’ll say anal fissures), dos Santos (head), Kumado (lower body, we’ll say penile gangrene), Morgan (lower body, we’ll say perineal chafing), Sisniega (back), Tverskov (lower body, we’ll say fatty groin infection).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

San Diego: No players suspended. McVey out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves, ably bolstered by seven Sounders FC squad players, earned a 2:2 draw against Kansas City at Victory Field on 3 May. Cody Baker levelled the score at 1:1 with his first half injury-time strike. In the second half Osaze De Rosario hit one on 57’ to make the score 1:2. Kansas City would equalise on 63 minutes, ending the scoring for the night.

In the team for the Reserves:

Newman, Phoenix, Hawkins, Lopez, Baker, Kingston, Tsukanome, O’Neill, Gomez, De Rosario, Gaffney.

Substitutes:

Jauregui, Sandnes, Shour, Robles, Bronnik, Winslow, Gnaulati, Carli, Kitafuji.

Sounders FC Reserves are currently 25th in the MLS Next Pro league table on eight points, 15 points adrift of leaders Houston Dynamo 2. Sounders FC Reserves next face Austin FC II on Sunday 10 May at Parmer Field for a 5:30 PDT kick-off. Well done on the away result, lads!