Injury Updates
OUT:
- M – Bernardo Anor (L Lower Leg)
- D – Marc Burch (B Athletic Pubalgia)
- M/D – Thomas DeVillardi (L Achilles)
- D – Justin Davis (R Foot)
- D – Joe Greenspan (Head)
- F – Christian Ramirez (R Hamstring)
- M – Rasmus Schuller (L Thigh)
Training Notes
- Marc Burch — who underwent successful surgery for a sports hernia in mid-June — was back doing some light training with the squad for the first time since being sidelined.
- Kevin Venegas has been nursing a right thigh injury for the last few weeks but has now returned to full training with the team.
- Thomas de Villardi, whom the Loons drafted at No. 42 in the 2017 SuperDraft, suffered an Achilles injury before he could take the pitch for the team, but this week he got back to working in cleats and with the ball after months of physical rehab.
Gaffer’s Quote
Adrian Heath on Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer: “We go back to the old USL days. When I first got over to the States when we got announced as an MLS club, I visited Seattle, Portland and Vancouver and the people at Seattle were fantastic. Brian was one of the ones who opened the doors for me and let me see everything that Seattle were doing. I’ve got a lot of time for him and really pleased that he got the opportunity because he had a really good record in USL and his first year, he wins the championship! He’s had a pretty good start.”
Marquee Matchups
- Clint Dempsey vs. Sam Cronin: The U.S. men’s national team’s co-leading goalscorer will have to tangle with Cronin is he wants to put shots on goal, and Cronin has been one of the best defensive players in the Loons’ front six. Dempsey has a deadly long range shot, but Cronin tackles hard and recovers well. Look for a knockdown, drag-out matchup in the midfield.
- Joevin Jones vs. Jerome Thiesson: Thiesson’s performance last week in Minnesota’s 4-0 win over D.C. United earned him a spot on the bench of MLS’ Team of the Week. They’ll need his defensive prowess down the wing yet again to frustrate Seattle’s assist leader, Joevin Jones.
