TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders could regain a top contributor as they get set to take on the Chicago Fire in a US Open Cup semifinal clash Wednesday night at Starfire Soccer Complex (10:30 pm ET; watch LIVE on SoundersFC.com).
Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid told reporters after practice Tuesday that defender DeAndre Yedlin should be available for the game and is expected to start. Yedlin sat out Seattle’s 2-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night after spending the previous few days in Europe conducting negotiations for an imminent overseas transfer. His status for the USOC match had been questionable.
“[Yedlin] is out here, he trained with us today. We think everything’s going to be finished and done,” Schmid said. “Our expectation is that he will start tomorrow.”
Schmid previously said that Yedlin was held out of the Houston match to avoid the risk of injury as the final touches are put on the transfer negotiations.
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Yedlin’s return would add to a Seattle back line that is gradually returning to full strength. Chad Marshall started the game against Houston after missing two games with a back injury, while Djimi Traore also made his return to the club after missing time with a torn adductor.
Schmid will have to take a quick turnaround into consideration as he decides what line-up he will field against Chicago. Following the game, the Sounders hit the road to take on Real Salt Lake in an MLS match on Saturday before taking on the San Jose Earthquakes at home just four days later on August 20, meaning the Sounders are playing three matches in a one-week span.
“The approach isn’t any different,” Schmid said of his mindset going into the USOC match. “You put the best team on the field that you can. You’ve got to look people’s physical situation, look at maybe rotations that make sense to you and try and get the best team on the field to win the game.”
The winner of the game advances to the finals of the tournament to take on the victor of Tuesday night's match between FC Dallas and the Philadelphia Union.
