TUKWILA, Wash. — Right back Adam Johansson’s tweaked hamstring has made him a game-time decision for the Seattle Sounders as they face off against Brad Davis and the Houston Dynamo on Friday night (10 pm ET, NBC Sports Network).
Right midfielder Mauro Rosales is already sidelined for the match with a knee injury, but Johansson’s absence could be extra costly against Davis, an MLS Best XI selection last season.
"We wanted to see how he reacted today, so we wanted to keep him off the field," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said of Johansson following Thursday’s training session at Starfire Sports Complex. "There's a possibility he might not go, but we'll have to see with him. We just want to be really careful because it's not anything extreme right now. We want to make sure it doesn't become something worse."
Paired with Rosales’ injury, Seattle may have a completely different look on the right side. The two strongest candidates to fill in at midfield are Roger Levesque and Christian Sivebaek.
Zach Scott has played well at right back in the past, and the 31-year-old former USL Sounder brings a physical presence that can stymie opposing players.
“Because they have good size, because there are guys who are strong on the ball, there are challenges that occur around the field,” Schmid said of the Dynamo. “They’re a team that’s very willing to partake in that part of the game, so you have to be able to match that.
“You can’t come in and say, ‘It’s going to be our skill against their work rate or their effort.’ You have to match their work rate and effort, and then you let things fall where they are.”
