Sounders FC vs. Philadelphia Union
MLS Regular Season
Saturday, May 3; 7 pm PT; CenturyLink Field
TV/Radio: Q-13 FOX; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; THIS-TV (KOMO2, Spanish); ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
Sounders FC looks to extend its four-game unbeaten streak on Saturday when it hosts the Philadelphia Union at CenturyLink Field.
Philadelphia is also winless in the last seven matches, so here are three matchups to watch as Seattle looks to extend both streaks.
Clint Dempsey vs. Brian Carroll
Nobody has been able to stop Dempsey this year. He has a goal or an assist in all six matches he has played, totaling eight goals and three assists to lead MLS in scoring. With Obafemi Martins taking up the defensive efforts of Philadelphia's center backs, the responsibility of defending Dempsey will likely fall to holding midfielder Carroll, who will likely need to sit back to offer help to Amobi Okugo and Aaron Wheeler, who is starting at center back after moving from his striker position during the preseason. Maurice Edu will also offer assistance as the Union looks to slow the hottest offense in MLS.
Andrew Wenger vs. Chad Marshall
For the second time in this young season, Wenger will be faced with the task of trying to solve the Seattle defense. The third-year forward came to Philadelphia in a trade from the Montreal Impact on April 4, just after Seattle posted a 2-1 win over the Impact. He has one goal in four matches for the Union, thriving in their 4-3-3 formation that creates numerical mismatches and using the team-speed and one-touch passing to get scoring chances. Marshall was part of a defense that kept Wenger quite in that March 23 match in Montreal and has been stellar of late in his defensive responsibilities.
Lamar Neagle vs. Sheanon Williams
While Seattle's recent scoring outburst has come mostly from play up the middle of the field, the wide threat created by Neagle helps to spread the defense out. Williams is a physical right back who also likes to get forward. If Neagle is able to get behind him, Seattle could find opportunities up that left side. With the way the offense is clicking, Seattle could find scoring through many different channels and this won't be an easy matchup on either side of the ball.
