The Seattle Sounders are hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV App | **TICKETS**) in the second match of the MLS season. Here are three matchups to watch:
Héber vs. Justen Glad
It was a dream full debut for offseason acquisition Héber last week when he scored his first Sounders goal just 53 minutes into his tenure. Starting for the sidelined Raúl RuidÃaz, Héber was heavily involved in buildup play and earned his reward by icing the match with the third of Seattle’s four goals in a resounding 4-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. The Brazilian will be matched up with Glad, who despite being just 26 is in his ninth season as a professional with RSL. Glad went the full 90 minutes and scored a goal of his own in RSL’s season-opening 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Alex Roldan vs. Jefferson Savarino
The Sounders had a ton of success down the right flank last week, due in no small part to the play of the Roldan brothers. Cristian and Alex combined well to unbalance Colorado, and Alex’s ability to get forward was instrumental in the Sounders’ attacking threat. The younger Roldan staying higher up the pitch will force Savarino to be a little more honest defensively, but Roldan will also need to make sure he has cover in behind. The Venezuelan winger has a ton of pace and is in his second stint with RSL after scoring 19 goals in 80 matches with Atlético Mineiro in Brazil’s top flight.
Yeimar vs. Damir Kreilach
Yeimar has had a strong showing to 2023 so far, playing well in both the season-opener as well as the FIFA Club World Cup contest against Egypt’s Al Ahly. The big Colombian center back has adjusted seamlessly next to new partner Jackson Ragen and has looked very much like his 2021 MLS Best XI self. His biggest focus will be keeping Kreilach off the score sheet after he found the back of the net in RSL’s win last weekend. The 33-year-old attacker missed almost all of 2022 due to injury, but when healthy he’s one of the best and most underrated goalscorers in the league.
