Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 10/13
Bookmaker: BetUS
Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes will face each other at the Lumen Field in Seattle Wednesday evening, within the regular part of the 2023 season in the Western Conference of the American Major League Soccer.
It’ll be match 16 of the 2023 season for the hosts, and 15th of the season for the visitors.
Seattle Sounders
It’s been a much better campaign for the Sounders so far than the previous one when they finished 11th. At the moment, they top the table in the Western Conference with 26 points, though St. Louis in second place with 25 points have two games in hand, while third-place Los Angeles FC, also on 25, have three, and FC Dallas in fourth also have two. A victory in this match is obviously imperative for Seattle, if they want to stay where they are. But with seven teams heading into the Final Series, there doesn’t seem to be much danger of missing out for them.
Brian Schmetzer’s team haven’t exactly been able to keep the pace they set themselves early on, winning six of the opening nine matches. Three defeats followed, allowing those close behind to close in.
Seattle’s recent form hasn’t been too good either. They lost four of their last six matches, winning two. The run began with losses 1-2 at home to Sporting Kansas City and 3-1 away to LA FC in the US Open Cup. Then they beat Houston Dynamo away by 0-1, but they quickly returned to the wrong path by losing 1-2 at home to Austin and 2-0 away to Vancouver. But they eventually bounced back, beating New York Red Bull at home by 1-0.
The only goal of that game was the work of winger Jordan Morris in the 22nd minute, and the victory proved costly with Joao Paulo sent off with 15 minutes to go.
Team News
To make things worse, Morris is set to miss this match through a groin injury. Joao Paulo is, of course, suspended for his red card.
Stefan Frei should be in goal, with the quarter of Alex Roldan, Yeimar Andrade, Jackson Ragen and Cody Baker forming the back line. Josh Atencio and Albert Rusnak should be in the middle of the park, while the trio of Dylan Teves, Leo Chu and captain Nicolas Lodeiro playing behind Brazilian striker Heber.
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose finished 2022 in last place, and though many don’t really understand a league system in football with no relegation, they will have been very pleased about it. Therefore, just like for Seattle, 2023 has so far been somewhat kinder for the Quakes, who now sit fifth in the Conference table with 19 points from the previous 14 games.
But unlike the home side, Luchi Gonzalez’s side are far from comfortable in terms of keeping their spot in the top seven, with sixth-place Minnesota also on 19 points, seventh-place Houston Dynamo on 18 with just 13 matches played, Vancouver in eighth on 17, while Portland Timber and Austin follow on 16 each. One round could obviously be enough to cause some serious shifting in this area of the table.
San Jose won just once in their last six outings in all competitions, losing 1-0 away to Monterey Bay FC in the US Open Cup, drawing 2-2 away to Austin, beating LA FC at home by 2-1, losing 2-1 away to LA Galaxy as well as away to LA FC, and eventually drawing 1-1 at home against Dallas.
Like Seattle, the Quakes also had a player sent off in their last game, with midfielder Judson picking up a second yellow card deep in the stoppage time, after Nkos Tafari scored a late equalizer for Dallas to cancel out a lead given to San Jose by Benji Kikanovic in the 70th minute.
Team News
Apart from the suspended Judson, Gonzalez won’t be able to call upon defender Nathan through an ACL injury.
With Daniel between the posts, centre-backs Rodrigues and Tanner Beason should be flanked by Tommy Thompson and Miguel Trauco. In the middle of the park, Carlos Gruezo will be expected to protect the back line, alongside captain Jackson Yueill and Jamiro Monteiro. Striker Jeremy Ebobisse should have Kikanovic on his left, and Cristian Espinoza on his right.
Conclusion
Neither side appears consistent at the moment and their clash should be very interesting. However, there is a reason why the Sounders are that much higher in the Conference table, and boosted by the support from the home crowd, they should be able to achieve a narrow victory.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 10/13
Bookmaker: BetUS
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
