Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Regular Season
Wednesday, August 20; 7 pm PT; CenturyLink Field
TV/Radio: JOEtv (local); ROOT Sports (regional); KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; THIS-TV (KOMO2, Spanish); ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
San Jose’s Record: The Earthquakes are eighth in the Western Conference at 6-9-6 (24 points) and nine points behind Vancouver for the fifth and final playoff spot. San Jose is just 1-4-3 on the road this year.
Head-To-Head: This is the final match in the three-game regular season series. They have split the previous two, with each side winning 1-0 at home. Sounders FC did top San Jose in the U.S. Open Cup in a shootout.
All-Time Series: San Jose leads the all-time regular season series at 8-6-1. However, Seattle is 5-3-0 at CenturyLink Field against the Quakes. Additionally, Sounders FC is 1-0-1 in U.S. Open Cup play against San Jose.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: D Damion Lowe (Hip Surgery); F Kevin Parsemain (ACL Tear); D Dylan Remick (L Adductor Strain). QUESTIONABLE: None. Earthquakes – OUT: D Tommy Muller (Lower Back Spasms), D Andy Gorlitz (R ACL surgery), D Clarence Goodson (L 1st Toe Sprain), F Steven Lenhart (R Knee Arthroscopy). QUESTIONABLE: M Matias Perez Garcia (R knee sprain), D Shaun Francis (L thigh contusion), F Mike Fucito (L adductor tightness), M Yannick Djalo (R quad strain).
Key Player: Jon Busch finished the match with a season-high eight saves to keep Sounders FC off the scoreboard in a 1-0 win for San Jose on August 2. It was Busch’s fifth shutout of the season, but he has allowed seven goals in two matches since, lifting his goals against average to 1.29. Against Seattle, he has a 1.00 goals against average in 13 matches.
Notes: Sounders FC leads MLS with eight home wins in 2014, going 8-3-0 at CenturyLink Field this season. … Chad Barrett’s goal against Real Salt Lake was his 49th career MLS goal. He ranks 41st in the league’s all-time scoring list. … Sounders FC has outscored the opposition 21-4 over the final 30 minutes of matches, ranking first in the league in goals scored and goals allowed in the final half-hour. … Seattle is second in the Western Conference for the first time since taking control of the top spot on April 26. Real Salt Lake (11-4-9, 42 points) has a one-point lead over Seattle (13-7-2, 41 points) in the standings.
