Match 24: Sounders vs. Toronto FC Pre-match

Posted by Mike on August 27, 2009 · Under Pre-Match, Toronto FC · View Comments 

TorontoFC.pngThe Sounders return home to the friendly confines of Qwest Field on Saturday as they host Toronto FC. [Buy Tickets]

Seattle (8-6-9, 33points) is coming off a 1-1 draw with the Western Leaders Dynamo last Sunday in Houston.

Toronto’s 30 points come from their 8-8-6 record and are headed to Seattle following a 2-0 loss at Chivas USA last week.

The positive note to the Sounders is that no one is suspended for yellow-card accumulation or a previous red card and no one else is away for National Team duty. This is only the fifth time that Sigi Schmid has had all of his options. This includes a return to the lineup of Colombian Fredy Montero who is second in MLS for goals scored with 10 (he also has 6 assists).

On the flip side, the boys in red will be without Adrian Serioux and Carl Robinson two mainstays in their lineup who will be out due to yellow card accumulation. However, Dwayne DeRosario and his 9 goals on the season will be available.

This is the second meeting of the season for these two squads. Seattle made their first road trip as club in April to BMO Field- a match the boys in Rave Green won 2-0 as Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Zakuani tallied their first goals as Sounders.

Sounders will most likely start a lineup looking like this…

Montero  –  Jaqua

Zakuani  –  Ljungberg — Alonso — Evans

Gonzalez — Marshall — Hurtado — Riley

Keller

Cautions
Suspended after next Yellow: Freddie Ljungberg, Tyrone Marshall
Suspended after 2 Yellows: Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Patrick ianni, Nate Jaqua, James Riley, Pete Vagenas

Jorge Gonzalez will be the referee in the center. This is his first match involving Sounders FC.

Kickoff is at 1p.

  • K61

    After a quick look around, it appears that Jorge Gonzalez is a decent ref.  Matches he calls rarely turn into a cardfests (ala Tim Weiland and Baldomero Toledo).  He’s ref’d TFC once before in their season opener March 21 against KC (2 yellows issued for the entire match).  On May 9 he called the Crew/KC match and issued 5 yellows.  On June 10 he called the Chivas/Dynamo match and issued 2 yellows.  On Aug. 8 he called the LA/NE match and again issued 2 yellows.  I didn’t do an exhaustive search, but it appear that we can expect a range of somewhere between 2 and 5 yellows for the match.

    So it appears that I can look forward to enjoying a match Saturday where the ref is not attention starved and seems to issue cards to establish his dominance over everyone.  I’ll enjoy watching some quality soccer rather than the ref once again.  Hooray!

  • Mark

    DC’s desperation continues.  Check out the latest DC United celebrity endorsement.  I hope we never get to the point where we have to beg and plead for people to come watch the Sounders.

  • Steve

    I want to see:
    FL – FM
    Zak –  Evans –  Alonso – Le Toux
    Gonzalez - Marshall - Hurtado - Riley
    Keller

    Its hard to bench Nate after having the goal of the week, but I would like to see FL up top again to see if he can continue to play like he did last weekend.

  • Peter

    What is listed as the most likely starting lineup is exactly what I would hope it is.  The only trick here, I guess, is the wing midfielders (read Zakuani) will be expected to help out more defending with Ljungberg playing up high.

  • shea

    After last weeks performance, I think it would be a huge waste NOT to start FL up top. Put him as a withdrawn striker allowing him to come back and collect like he did so well last week.

    As for the other man up top, I honestly do not have a favorite between Jaqua and Montero. Both have the goals to back themselves up, but both can and SHOULD be accused of lack luster, and at times extremely lazy/immature performances.

    Gut decision would be to give the nod to Nate. He did have a goal last week, even though it may have been the ugliest goal I have seen in a while. And I think he worked well with FL.

    Also with this lineup, you have Evans and Alonso holding down the midfield, which I like a lot (read the chemistry that occurred in the season’s first 3 games).

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