The Seattle Sounders face off against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday (7:30 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, 950 KJR AM) in in their third and final match at the MLS is Back Tournament. Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.
Nicolás Lodeiro vs. Leonard Owusu
Nicolás Lodeiro is the lifeblood of Sounders FC.
After missing the start of the 2020 season through injury, the midfield maestro returned to the fray at the MLS is Back Tournament, starting both matches against San Jose and Chicago. Deployed in his usual roaming No. 10 role, Lodeiro supplied his unique mixture of high-volume passing and relentless defensive work, but there was understandably a bit of rust in his performances. On Sunday, he’ll go head-to-head with Leonard Owusu, a defensive midfielder with just under 60 pro matches to his name. Owusu, 23, struggled in Vancouver’s loss to the Earthquakes, posting just a single interception and going 0/3 on tackles.
If Lodeiro can stay higher up the pitch against the Whitecaps, finding pockets of space between the lines, he’ll have more opportunities to showcase his world-class chemistry with Jordan Morris and Raúl RuidÃaz, effectively unlocking Seattle’s attack.
Kelvin Leerdam vs. Ali Adnan
A mainstay with the Sounders since midway through the 2017 season, Kelvin Leerdam has quietly been one of the club’s top performers at the MLS is Back Tournament. Steady defensively and hyper-technical in the attack, some of Seattle’s best moments in the final third have come from the Dutch right back pushing forward and creating wide overloads.
On Sunday, he’ll face off against one of the most ambitious attacking full backs in MLS: Ali Adnan. One of the few DP defenders in the league, Adnan loves to fly forward when Vancouver has possession, whipping crosses into the box and ripping shots on goal. If Leerdam can pick his moments to push up the pitch, he’ll be able to exploit the acres of space vacated by Adnan when he forays into the attack.
Jordan Morris vs. Jake Nerwinski
Jordan Morris has been a revelation since transitioning to the wing during the 2019 season. In Seattle’s 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire, he posed plenty of danger as a halftime substitute, setting up the Sounders’ lone goal with a clever run and perfectly executed pull back for Handwalla Bwana to hammer home.
The Rave Green will need Morris to be a match winner on Sunday if they hope to pick up three points. Nerwinski is a steady, capable outside back, but he’s no match for Morris when he’s on form. If Morris features in the match, it will be his 100th MLS appearance since entering the league in 2016. What better way to celebrate a century of caps for his hometown club than spearheading a victory over a regional rival?
