The Seattle Sounders are taking on the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship on Sunday (1 p.m. PT; ESPN, 770 KTTH, El Rey 1360AM) in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Here is Seattle’s Starting XI:
FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
GK: Frei (24)
RB: Mears (4)
CB: Torres (29)
CB: Marshall (14)
LB: Jones (33)
CM: Alonso (6) — Captain
CM: Roldan (7)
RM: Morris (13)
AM: Lodeiro (10)
LM: Ivanschitz (23)
FW: Valdez (16)
SUBSTITUTES:
GK: Miller (1)
DEF: Scott (20)
DEF: Alfaro (25)
DEF: Fisher (91)
MF: Kovar (11)
MF: Fernandez (21)
MF: Gomez (9)
NOTES:
- Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer makes one personnel change to his Starting XI from Seattle’s 2-1 win over the Rapids in the first leg at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday. Andreas Ivanschitz replaces Erik Friberg and will start on the left, Nicolas Lodeiro will shift from the right wing to the middle and Jordan Morris will switch sides from the left to the right.
- Friberg was a late scratch due to a left calf strain and is not on the 18-man roster. Schmetzer made the decision on Sunday to remove him from the lineup.
- Ivanschitz starts for the first time in seven matches after recovering from a sprained knee he suffered against the Houston Dynamo over a month ago. Ivanschitz missed five games before returning as a substitute on Tuesday.
- Brad Evans is also a late scratch due to a left ankle sprain. He made the trip, but is unavailable.
- Defender Tony Alfaro and midfielder Aaron Kovar are new additions to the bench in Friberg and Evans’ absences.
