TUKWILA, Wash. — It looks as if the Seattle Sounders will have their leading scorer when they try to make history in Mexico.
Eddie Johnson traveled and should at least be available off the bench for Seattle in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal on Tuesday against Santos Laguna (8 pm ET, Fox Soccer). The Sounders face a 1-0 aggregate-goal deficit while looking to become the the first MLS team to win in Mexico during the knockout phase of the tournament.
“Eddie did more today,” head coach Sigi Schmid said following a rainy day of training on Sunday. “So we’ll see how he is. The anticipation is that we have 48 hours so he’ll be close to being ready. I don’t know if that’s start ready or sub ready.”
COMPLETE CCL COVERAGE
With Johnson on the field, the Sounders have scored five goals in five matches across all competitions. Johnson has two of those goals and is the only Seattle player with more than one. The Sounders have been shut out in both games Johnson missed, including the first leg of the series vs. Santos last Tuesday.
The prognosis is not as good for Brad Evans. The midfielder continues to deal with an injured calf and was only able to go through warm-ups before heading inside for treatment.
And the Sounders will be without Obafemi Martins for the crucial second leg. The newly signed Designated Player is temporarily away from the team receiving treatment on his injured knee, and is expected to rejoin the team sometime this week. He could play as soon as Saturday against the New England Revolution.
“Things are going well, is what he said,” Schmid said. “The last time it took eight to 10 days and then he was ready to play. We’re hoping it will be the same sort of thing.”
