The Seattle Sounders are hosting Columbus Crew SC on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field. CLICK HERE for tickets.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on JOEtv, YouTube TV and Univision-Seattle.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 1-4-1 (4 points, 12th West), Crew SC: 4-3-2 (14 points, 5th East).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 5-4-3 all time against Crew SC, including a 2-2-2 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Crew SC defeated the Sounders 3-0 last May in Columbus in the two teams’ only meeting of the season.
KIM NOTCHES FIRST START: After Román Torres was a late scratch because of a hamstring strain, Kim Kee-hee made his inaugural Sounders start last weekend against LAFC. Kim had just recovered from a calf strain and put in a strong 69-minute shift.
MORE INJURIES ARISE: In addition to Torres’ hamstring strain, Chad Marshall also missed the LAFC match with a neck sprain. Víctor Rodríguez, who had returned to the matchday roster two weeks ago against Minnesota United, was absent last weekend as he continues to battle his knee sprain.
Cristian Roldan battles Crew SC’s Federico Higuain | USA Today Sports
ON A ROLL-DAN: Rookie Alex Roldan has made three consecutive starts and has proven to be a valuable midfield option for Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
U.S. MIDFIELD CLASH: Saturday’s match will be a battle between two up-and-coming U.S. international midfielders in Seattle’s Cristian Roldan and Columbus’ Wil Trapp. Roldan, 22, and Trapp, 25, look to be key cogs in the future of the USMNT as it turns the page in 2018.
GRELLADINHO RETURNS: Columbus midfielder Mike Grella made his long-awaited return from injury last weekend and scored the game-winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes just 19 minutes into his Crew debut. The talented winger had 17 goals and 13 assists with the New York Red Bulls in 2015-16 before knee surgery sidelined him for over a year. He was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the 2017 Re-Entry Draft and then was traded to Columbus.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Gone are the dynamic duo of Ola Kamara (LA Galaxy) and Justin Meram (Orlando City) and in is the recently struggling Gyasi Zardes, who Crew SC acquired from the Galaxy in exchange for Kamara. Zardes has been revitalized, though, scoring a team-high five goals in the first nine games of the season.
HIGUAIN 50/50: Crew playmaker Federico Higuain recently joined the MLS 50/50 club for goals and assists. “Pipa” is in his seventh season in Columbus and just re-signed a Designated Player contract extension. The 33-year-old has two goals and four assists in 2018.
