Nearly a month ago, Sounders FC 2 (4-3-1, 13 points) was playing its second match in three days on the road against Oklahoma City Energy FC (2-1-2, 8 points). Although the Rave Green were able to strike first via Darwin Jones, the Energy rallied back with two goals, including an 86th-minute goal to take all three points.
Now it is S2’s chance to host OKC at Starfire Stadium where the Sounders are a perfect 4-0-0. However, the team will be playing without Giuliano Frano, who has started each game in the midfield, due to a red card suspension.
“It is a big loss for us to lose our starter, but we have guys who we are confident in that can fill that position,” said S2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. “Guys always seem to perform their best playing at home, so I’m sure that will give us a boost.”
Energy FC will also be playing without starter Cyprian Hedrick, who is serving the second of a two-match ban for kicking a downed St. Louis FC player in his last match.
OKC’s Danni Konig is currently tied for second in Goals Per Game in the league, and proved his scoring prowess against S2, netting the game-winner in the last meeting between these clubs.
Although the Energy have only scored eight goals this season, the club has allowed only seven goals, holding S2 to only one goal, one of only two times the Rave Green have been held to a goal or less. Meanwhile, S2 has never scored less than two goals while playing at Starfire Stadium.
“Visiting teams know going into the stadium how hard it is to play there, and I think that effects the way they play,” said S2 captain Amadou Sanyang. “It allows us to do what we want and execute our game plan when we play at home.”
With eight points on the season so far, Energy FC Head Coach and former Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen will be looking for three road points to start a push from the middle of the table.
Currently tied for third place in a tightly contested USL Western Conference another home win would put S2 at 16 points and, at least temporarily, into first place. Going into the weekend, only two points separate the top five teams in the West, which is something S2 would like to change in its favor.
