Freshly returned from their first road trip, the Seattle Sounders FC is still unbeaten and have not allowed a goal yet in three games, becoming the first team in MLS history to open the season with three clean sheets. Can they make it 4-for-4?
Standing in the way is a Kansas City Wizards team fresh off of their first win of the season, defeating the San Jose Earthquake at home on Sunday.
The Wizards have had some close matches so far, losing a close home opener against Toronto FC 3-2 and on the road against the defending MLS Champions Columbus Crew 2-1. In the 2008 season, Kansas City won three of their first five games before losing seven in a row to put the playoffs in doubt. The team talked a lot in the preseason about avoiding that situation this year. I am sure starting with two losses was not the way they wanted to change things.
Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo has switched his starting midfield line up around with Davy Arnaud and Josh Wolff returning from injury. He has also changed his back line by moving Lance Watson from center back to right back and starting Matt Besler at left back.
The Wizards are a fast attacking team with Arnaud and Wolff back now, allowing veteran Claudio Lopez more room to work in front of them. It will be a challenge for Seattle’s defense to keep them in check but it may allow the counter attacking Sounders some opportunities.
On the Sounders side of the ball, there is no word on whether Fredy Montero will be playing. The team says that while he is still under the weather, he is better than he was last week and they expect him to be available for the match. Head coach Sigi Schmid is playing very coy about his lineup telling the media when asked about starters and the bench on Thursday, “I do. But you don’t.”
I expect the match to be a good one. Seattle’s fans will be in full voice. The weather is predicted to be rain during the day but hopefully clearing off by match time.
Kansas City is looking to get back in the Eastern Division race where they are four points behind Chicago and New England. Seattle is looking to keep perfect in both goals allowed and record but I do not expect them to lose focus if they do allow their first goal. There is too much veteran leadership with Kasey Keller, Tyrone Marshall, and Freddie Ljungberg to allow that.
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
Ah shoot, we got beat. No problem. It was a well played match by both sides, with action at each end till the end of the game.
Keller getting a red card. that was cool. Sounders playing one man down still was able to gain some control...He still has a clean sheet for the season.
It is a long season. Sounders FC will be there at the end...