Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Regular Season
Saturday, August 2; 7:30 pm PT; Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.
TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
San Jose’s Record: The Earthquakes are ninth in the Western Conference at 5-8-5 (20 points), but are coming off a convincing 5-1 win over the Chicago Fire last week.
Head-To-Head: This is the second of three meetings between the Western Conference foes. Sounders FC won the previous match 1-0 on an eighth minute goal from Obafemi Martins.
All-Time Series: San Jose leads the all-time MLS regular season series at 7-6-1, though both teams have scored 16 goals in those matches. Seattle is 1-0-1 in Open Cup play against the Earthquakes to draw even in the all-competitions series at 7-7-2.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: D Damion Lowe (Hip Surgery); F Kevin Parsemain (ACL Tear). QUESTIONABLE: D Leo Gonzalez (L Hamstring Strain); GK Marcus Hahnemann (L Hamstring Strain); D Chad Marshall (Neck Sprain); M Lamar Neagle (L Ankle Sprain); D Dylan Remick (L Adductor Strain); M Andy Rose (L Knee Surgery); D Djimi Traore (R Adductor Strain). Earthquakes – OUT: D Tommy Muller (lower back spasms), D Andy Gorlitz (R ACL surgery); D Clarence Goodson (L 1st Toe sprain). QUESTIONABLE: F Steven Lenhart (R knee inflammation).
Key Player: Chris Wondolowski was the 2012 MLS MVP when he scored 27 goals to lead San Jose to the Supporters’ Shield. He has seven goals in 12 matches this season, including two in the last three games for San Jose after he returned from the World Cup. He currently ranks 11th on the league’s all-time scoring list with 86 goals, two behind Carlos Ruiz and Roy Lassiter, who are tied for ninth.
Notes: Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid has 199 career MLS victories, one away from becoming the first MLS coach to reach the 200-win milestone. … Saturday’s match will be the first competitive event at Levi’s Stadium, the new home for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2002, the Sounders (then of the A-League) topped the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 in the first sporting event at CenturyLink Field. Zach Scott played five minutes in that match. … Sounders FC are just 1-4-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium, with the lone victory coming in 2010. … San Jose signed its third Designated Player in club history on Thursday when it added Argentine midfielder Matias Perez Garcia. It is not expected that he will play on Saturday. He joins Wondolowski as the club’s only DPs on the current roster.
