The Seattle Sounders face the Vancouver Whitecaps (7 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) on Saturday in the club’s first Cascadia match of the 2019 season. Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.
Chad Marshall vs. Fredy Montero
Sounders FC center back Chad Marshall, who enters Saturday’s fixture with 399 regular season MLS starts to his name, will have his hands full with former Seattle striker Fredy Montero. This Cascadia derby could be decided by a battle of wits, as Marshall and Montero rely more on their soccer IQ’s and manipulation of space than any physical traits. With the Colombian striker likely to drop into midfield to facilitate play, the Sounders defender will need to track his movements and communicate defensive assignments to Kim Kee-hee and Gustav Svensson. Marshall may not possess blistering pace, but he’s an intelligent, experienced defender capable of shutting down Vancouver’s star forward.
Gustav Svensson vs. Inbeom Hwang
The Whitecaps had massive roster turnover in the offseason, bringing in a host of players that fit new Head Coach Marc Dos Santos’ vision for progressive soccer. The cornerstone of this Vancouver revolution has been Designated Player Inbeom Hwang, a 22-year-old with 14 caps for the South Korean national team. A two-way player with close control and an impressive passing range, Inbeom has hit the ground running in MLS, racking up seven key passes in his last two starts. While the Sounders’ attack has earned plaudits for its fast start to the season, Svensson has quietly gone about his business, maintaining sustained possession and cleaning up opposition attacks before they can really get going. Since Seattle is playing a rivalry match on the road, control of the midfield will be of the utmost importance. If Svensson can keep his counterpart under wraps, then the Sounders will have the freedom to innovate and express themselves going forward.
Jordan Morris vs. Victor “PC” Giro
Speaking of Seattle’s dangerous attack, Jordan Morris has been a critical component of the Sounders’ multi-faceted offense. The Mercer Island native must like his chances of staying on the score sheet on Saturday as he goes toe-to-toe with Vancouver’s attack-minded left back. Under Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders have preferred to dominate possession as a means of generating chances and controlling matches. While that remains true in 2019, they’ve shown a willingness to get out on the counter as well. If PC consistently pushes forward in possession on Saturday, look for Morris to exploit the space down the right as the Rave Green launch transition attacks.
