On Saturday afternoon, the Seattle Sounders host Eastern Conference foe Columbus Crew SC at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS). Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.
João Paulo vs. Darlington Nagbe
While Darlington Nagbe is a known quantity in Seattle due to his seven-season spell with the Portland Timbers, Saturday marks the first time he’ll face off against João Paulo. The Sounders’ Brazilian Designated Player is off to a blistering start in Rave Green, posting two goals and two assists through his first three starts.
Whether or not he gets on the scoresheet, João Paulo will influence the match on Saturday by setting the rhythm in midfield. On the other side, Nagbe, a box-to-box midfielder, is at his best when he’s twisting and turning out of pressure as he dictates the tempo. Whichever player can wrestle control of midfield this weekend will give his side a leg up in securing three points.
Raúl RuidÃaz vs. Eloy Room
Room was one of the league’s top mid-season signings in 2019. A starter for the up-and-coming Curacao national team, Room’s blend of quality shot-stopping and elite distribution makes him an irreplaceable part of Columbus’ system. In fact, it was his pinpoint diagonal pass that led to an NYCFC center back getting sent off on opening day.
Enter RuidÃaz, whose relentless running in the press is one of his most underrated qualities as a No. 9. If RuidÃaz can get on the score sheet and disrupt Room’s ability to break lines, the Sounders will be perfectly positioned to pick up a win on Saturday.
Jordan Morris vs. Harrison Afful
What happens when the league’s most in-form winger squares off against one of the best outside backs? We’ll find out this weekend as Morris goes toe-to-toe with Afful for control of the left flank. Dating back to July 2019, Morris has been one of the most prolific players in the entire U.S. Men’s National Team pool, registering 17 goals and 14 assists in his last 32 matches for club and country.
Afful, 33, may not possess elite pace, but his movement is intelligent and his distribution can be lethal. The goal for Columbus will be to push him forward and overload that side of the pitch in an attempt to pin Morris back defensively. Conversely, if Afful spends too much time in Seattle’s half, he’ll leave acres of space behind him for Morris to exploit on the counter.
