TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders have weathered a summer that's included a combination of depth-depleting injuries, international absences, suspensions and a franchise-record goal-scoring drought. But now, they've finally snapped out of their recent slump with a resounding 4-0 blowout of Orlando City SC at CenturyLink Field last Sunday.
The Sounders now look to maintain that offensive momentum as they head to Rio Tinto Stadium for a Saturday evening road tilt with Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake (10 pm ET; MLS LIVE). Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid says the matchup should carry an even greater degree of intensity than usual given the playoff implications involved. Coming into the game, RSL trail Seattle by just three points for the sixth and final playoff spot in the West.
“It’s going to be a brawl,” Schmid told reporters Thursday after Seattle’s training session at Starfire Soccer Complex. “It’s going to be a game that’s a hotly contested match, from the standpoint that they see us ahead in the standings and they’re a team that’s becoming desperate for points. But we’re a team that also needs our points, so it’s definitely going to have a playoff feel to it.”
Seattle’s depth has seen a marked improvement in recent weeks, as star forward Obafemi Martins made his return to the lineup against Orlando following a nine-game injury absence, and then scored two goals. New acquisitions Nelson Valdez and Roman Torres also debuted last week, drawing positive reviews from Schmid on their contributions in their first game action with the team.
But Seattle will still be missing a few key faces at RSL, as forward Clint Dempsey and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso each figure to miss the contest with hamstring injuries.
“They’re making progress,” Schmid said of Dempsey and Alonso on Friday. “I can’t tell when they’re going to be back or what day they’re going to be back, but they’re both making good progress.”
Newly acquired Austrian midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz is also unlikely to make his Sounders debut, as he is still working his way back from a quad injury.
The Sounders that do play have the task of keeping their side on track as they navigate through their busiest stretch of the season. Following Saturday’s game, the team heads back to Seattle for one day of training before departing to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to continue CONCACAF Champions League play against Club Olimpia (10 pm ET; Fox Soccer Plus).
