With just seven games remaining in the regular season, Sounders FC sits in the sixth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference. Saturday night, the club hosts Toronto FC with a chance to earn three points for the third straight home match.
Here are three key matchups to watch in Saturday’s contest at CenturyLink Field.
Osvaldo Alonso vs. Michael Bradley
Fans could be treated to a battle between two players that have captained the U.S. National Team on Saturday, when Bradley and Clint Dempsey are likely to take the pitch against each other. Both Dempsey and Bradley were called in by the USMNT for its September 8 friendly versus Brazil, but they won’t join the team until after Saturday’s game. That sets up an intriguing midfield battle between Bradley and Seattle’s Alonso, who returned to the pitch last weekend after missing a month of action due to injury.
Stefan Frei vs. Herculez Gomez
Set to face his former team on Saturday, Frei has undoubtedly been one of the top goalkeepers in MLS this season. He ranks third in saves (88) and just won his league-leading fifth Save of the Week honor. Coming off a five-save performance against a Portland side that kept him busy all game, Frei will be facing a depleted attacking group on Saturday. With All-Star strikers Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore likely unavailable for the match, it’s likely that Gomez could make his first start up front for Toronto. A former USMNT forward who played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 33-year-old Gomez signed with the Reds on August 15.
Seattle depth vs. Toronto depth
Altidore is on international duty with the USMNT, while TFC Head Coach Greg Vanney isn’t optimistic about Giovinco due to the adductor injury the Italian striker suffered last weekend. That leaves a gaping hole up front, where the two are responsible for 27 of Toronto’s 44 goals this year. In addition, Benoit Cheyrou could be sidelined due to a calf injury and Collen Warner is suspended for two games. For the Sounders, Román Torres and Marco Pappa are on international duty while Dempsey and Andreas Ivanschitz are among the players dealing with injuries. Saturday’s match could come down to who steps up and performs in the absence of key players.
