SEATTLE – Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid was bound to make some changes to his lineup as Seattle played its fifth match in 16 days on Saturday against Chivas USA. However, he will keep his core largely intact as Seattle looks to maintain the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield standings at CenturyLink Field.
Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins lead the charge up front, the duo scoring or assisting in each of the last seven games. Dempsey has three goals and four assists on his current six-match point streak while Martins has five goals and three assists in seven matches since returning from a red card suspension on August 20.
In the midfield, Lamar Neagle has a four-match point streak with two goals and two assists. He will start on the right with Marco Pappa on the left, flanking a central pair of Osvaldo Alonso and Micheal Azira. This will be the fourth start of the season for Azira and first since July 5 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
On the back line, Seattle will have mainstays Chad Marshall at center back and DeAndre Yedlin at right back. However the left side of the back four will feature Jalil Anibaba, who is making his 12th start of the season, and Brad Evans. Anibaba will pair with Marshall in the middle while the versatile Evans will be making his third start of the season at left back and first since May 11 against the New England Revolution.
Stefan Frei remains the starter in goal, representing the only player on the club to start every match this season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm PT with television coverage on JOEtv (KZJO Ch. 22/Cable 10).
Sounders FC XI – Stefan Frei, DeAndre Yedlin, Chad Marshall, Jalil Anibaba, Brad Evans, Lamar Neagle, Osvaldo Alonso, Micheal Azira, Marco Pappa, Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins.
