The Seattle Sounders are hosting the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday evening (7:30 p.m. PT: JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3FM, El Rey 1360AM) and can clinch a spot in the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win. Here is the Sounders’ starting lineup:
FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
GK: Frei (24)
RB: Mears (4)
CB: Torres (29)
CB: Marshall (14)
LB: Alfaro (25)
CM: Alonso (6) – Captain
CM: Roldan (7)
RM: Gomez (9)
AM: Lodeiro (10)
LM: Ivanschitz (23)
FW: Morris (13)
SUBSTITUTES
GK: Miller (1)
DEF: Scott (20)
MF: Sturgis (18)
MF: Friberg (8)
MF: Kovar (11)
FW: Valdez (16)
FW: Anderson (39)
NOTES:
- Tony Alfaro is starting at left fullback for Joevin Jones, who is away with Trinidad and Tobago on international duty. This is Alfaro’s first career MLS start and first game action since interim head coach Brian Schmetzer took over in late July.
- Captain Brad Evans is suspended for the match after being issued a red card in the Sounders’ 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct. 2.
- Jordan Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro are in the Starting XI after the United States and Uruguayan national teams released them, respectively, from international duty last week.
- Herculez Gomez is making his second consecutive start in the midfield. He started against Vancouver for the injured Andreas Ivanschitz, who is back in the Starting XI this week after missing last match with a neck strain. Gomez now replaces Alvaro Fernandez, who is unavailable with a left hamstring strain.
