The Seattle Sounders are taking on the Houston Dynamo at 6 p.m. PT at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston (JOEtv, ROOT Sports, El Rey 1360AM, 770 KTTH). Here is the Sounders' full lineup and formation:
STARTING XI
GK: Frei (24)
RB: Mears (4)
CB: Evans (3) - captain
CB: Scott (20)
LB: Remick (15)
CM: Friberg (8)
CM: Alonso (6)
RM: Roldan (7)
AM: Lodeiro (10)
LM: Fernandez (21)
FW: Valdez (16)
SUBSTITUTES
GK: 1 Miller
DEF: 29 Torres
DEF: 33 J. Jones
MF: 23 Ivanschitz
FW: 9 Gomez
FW: 39 Anderson
FW: 13 Morris
NOTES:
- Forward Clint Dempsey and defender Chad Marshall did not travel with the team due to rest. Dempsey is the reigning MLS Player of the Week after scoring twice in the Sounders' 3-1 win over the Timbers on Sunday. Both players are expected to be available for selection on Sunday, Aug. 28 for Seattle's match in Portland.
"In the case of Clint and Chad, we need to be cognizant of how we're managing the overall group during such a busy period," interim head coach Brian Schmetzer said Wednesday. "Having just played an emotionally and physically challenging match on Sunday, we kept both players back in Seattle as a precautionary measure as we manage player workloads with three matches in one week.
"For us at this stage in the season, every game is a must-win game, and the expectation for the group in Houston tonight doesn't change no matter who is on the field. The group is confident, we're playing smart soccer at the moment, and we expect a good performance tonight."
- There are five changes to the Sounders' starting lineup from their last match, including Alvaro Fernandez making his first start sisnce signing with Seattle on July 28. Also making their first starts this month are forward Nelson Valdez (last start on July 31), midfielder Erik Friberg (July 24) and defenders Zach Scott (July (9) and Dylan Remick (Jine 25).
- Defender Roman Torres is on the bench and available for selection after being activated off the disabled list on Tuesday. The Panamanian international is on the active roster for the first time since tearing his ACL last September.
- Seattle is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak after defeating the Portland Timbers on Sunday and enters the match just two points outside a playoff spot. Houston is in last place in the Western Conference, but won at San Jose over the weekend.
