Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 5
CenturyLink Field — Seattle
10:00 pm ET – March 31, 2018
WATCH: MLS LIVE | TVAS in Canada

The Concacaf Champions League hangover is cured, as are some of the team’s injuries, so Seattle Sounders FC return to MLS play rested, refocused and ready for their first league win of the season after back-to-back defeats to LAFC and FC Dallas.

The Montreal Impact also started the 2018 season with consecutive losses — both away from home — before an emotional win over Toronto FC at Olympic Stadium, the first victory of the Remi Garde era.

Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders will be without Clint Dempsey, serving a one-game suspension for a red card against FC Dallas and midfielders Osvaldo Alonso and Victor Rodriguez are still on the mend from their respective injuries.

Nicolas Lodeiro is training fully and Will Bruin is in the final stages of concussion protocol, according to Brian Schmetzer, who expects both players available for selection Saturday.

While Schmetzer has some decisions to make when it comes to his roster, one thing is crystal clear — the Sounders need to be wary of Ignacio Piatti, even with the ball.

“As we attack we must always know where Piatti is on the field because he’s usually the first pass, the first outlet. They’re a very good counterattacking team, a good transition team,” Schmetzer said. “It will be a challenge as we try and get on the front foot — we’re at home — to make sure we don’t allow them into any counterattacking rhythm.”

Suspended: F - Clint Dempsey
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: F - Jordan Morris (torn ACL); M - Osvaldo Alonso (quad), M - Victor Rodriguez (right knee sprain); QUESTIONABLE: M - Nicolas Lodeiro (right midfoot sprain), F - Will Bruin (concussion)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Frei — Kelvin Leerdam, Roman Torres, Chad Marshall, Nouhou Tolo — Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan — Nicolas Lodeiro, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Handwalla Bwana — Will Bruin

Notes: Seattle are one of two teams that have yet to score in league play this season, along with Toronto FC. Additionally, their expected goal total of 2.7 is the lowest in MLS. … After losing just one home game in 2017, the Sounders dropped their first home game in 2018 in their season opener, a 1-0 loss to LAFC.

Montreal Impact

Fresh off their first win of the season, against rival Toronto FC to boot, the Impact spent the bye week attempting to strengthen their backline with the signing of French center back Rudy Camacho on a permanent transfer from Belgian club Waasland-Beveren.

Signing Camacho became necessary because of long-term injuries to defenders Zakaria Diallo and Kyle Fisher.

“He's a solid defender, but he’s also good at starting the attack,” Garde said. “He was quickly seduced by the challenge of MLS, despite numerous solicitations he received from other European clubs after two very good seasons in Belgium's first division.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia)

Projected Starting XI
(5-3-2, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Michael Petrasso, Victor Cabrera, Rudy Camacho, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz — Ken Krolicki, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Jeisson Vargas, Ignacio Piatti

Notes: The Impact have lost their last five games away from home, allowing two goals per game on average. … Ignacio Piatti has created seven chances from open play this season, tied for the fifth-most in the league.

All-Time Series

Overall: Sounders 2 wins, 6 goals … Impact 3 wins, 8 goals … Ties 1
At Seattle: Sounders 1 win, 1 goal … Impact 1 win, 1 goal … Ties 0
Last meeting at Seattle: Seattle Sounders FC 1, Montreal Impact 0 (April 2, 2016)