Looking to win its third straight game and continue climbing up the MLS standings, Sounders FC faces the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium. The Earthquakes, currently three points behind Seattle, are 2-0-0 against the Rave Green this season.
Here are three key positional battles to watch in Saturday’s contest.
Obafemi Martins vs. Clarence Goodson
Powered by Martins’ return to the lineup, Sounders FC has gotten back to its winning ways as of late, earning three points in three of its last four games. Martins has scored four goals in those matches to bring his team-leading total to 11. Seattle is 27-1-0 in the last three years when Martins scores, with the only loss coming to San Jose earlier this season. On Saturday, Martins will be marked by a veteran defender in former U.S. National Team centerback Clarence Goodson. With Goodson commanding the backline, San Jose has earned shutouts in four of its last five matches.
Chad Marshall vs. Chris Wondolowski
Another former USMNT centerback, Marshall will be crucial in Saturday’s game because defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is suspended due to yellow-card accumulation. He will surely be tested against San Jose, which boasts one of the most prolific strikers in MLS history. Wondolowski is sixth on the league’s all-time scoring list with 106 goals, including a team-high 13 goals this season. The one-time MVP recently became the only player in MLS history to score at least 10 goals in six straight seasons. His nine career goals against the Sounders are the most of any opposing player.
Tyrone Mears vs. Shea Salinas
Salinas has also had plenty of success against Seattle in his career, recording the third-most all-time assists versus the Rave Green (four). The veteran midfielder, who plays on the left wing, has more than 100 career starts for the Earthquakes and is second on the team with four assists this season. Salinas has been on a tear lately, recording a pair of goals and assists in his last four games. This weekend he’ll be matched up with Mears, who has been one of Seattle’s most consistent players this season. The first-year MLS rightback leads the club in starts (27) and minutes played (2,420).
