The Seattle Sounders host the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday in their second meeting this season. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2020 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 4-2-3 (15 points, 2nd West), Earthquakes: 2-3-3 (9 points, 12th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LDWWW, San Jose: DLLWW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 11-10-7 all time against the Earthquakes, including an 8-5-2 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle and San Jose played to a scoreless draw in Orlando, Fla., during group play of the MLS is Back tournament. Stefan Frei recorded eight saves and earned his 77th MLS shutout.
CONTROLLING THE ‘QUAKES: The Sounders are looking to extend their unbeaten run against the Earthquakes to 11 matches. Seattle is 5-0-5 in against San Jose in MLS regular-season play since 2015.
MORRIS MAGIC: Sounders winger Jordan Morris has continued to take his game to new heights in 2020. Despite the challenges of a start-and-stop schedule, the 25-year-old Mercer Island native has five goals and two assists in just 619 minutes this season, good for an average of just over one G/A per match. He’s tied with teammate Raúl Ruidíaz for fifth in MLS in goals scored this season.
FULLBACK FIRING: Sounders right back Kelvin Leerdam scored a laser of a half-volley against the Timbers last weekend for his second goal of the season. The Dutch defender has manifested tremendous offensive production since his signing in summer 2017, recording eight goals and 10 assists in just 73 regular-season MLS starts.
SVENSSON STILL OUT: Gustav Svensson will miss his third consecutive MLS match, as Head Coach Brian Schmetzer ruled out the Sounders’ defensive midfielder ahead of his return home from international play with Sweden. Svensson was with the Blågult for two UEFA Nations League matches against France and Portugal.
SAN JOSE SWEDE OUT FOR GOOD: The Earthquakes transferred winger Magnus Eriksson to Djurgårdens IF in his native Sweden on Aug. 21. The crafty lefty scored 13 goals and added 14 assists in 69 MLS appearances.
AGELESS WONDO: Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Wondolowski has the most goals against the Sounders in their MLS history, but the league’s all-time leading goalscorer has not scored in his last six appearances against Seattle.
MATÍAS MAN-MARKING: Led by second-year Head Coach Matías Almeyda, the ‘Quakes play a high-tempo, man-marking defensive scheme that is unique to MLS. The system is one that can cause teams fits if they aren’t sublime in passing out of the back and breaking lines. The success or failure in getting out of pressure will go a long way in determining Thursday’s result.
