The Seattle Sounders welcome the San Jose Earthquakes to CenturyLink Field on Saturday after a tight win at home last weekend. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the game.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is Saturday at 7 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field, and you can purchase tickets for the match now.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be telecast on Q13 FOX and Univision-Seattle in Spanish, with a pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. PT.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will be aired on KIRO 97.3 FM in English and on El Rey 1360AM in Spanish.
RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders (3-4-1, 10 pts., 9th in Western Conference), Quakes (4-2-3, 15 pts., 5th in Western Conference)
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders have historically struggled against the Quakes (6-10-3), and San Jose have also won three of the last five meetings, two of which were at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field. This match will be the first of two this season.
BACK ON THE WAGON: After they had their three-game unbeaten streak snapped with a loss in Colorado, the Sounders are back on the winning side as they earned three points at home last weekend against Columbus Crew SC. The Sounders are 3-1-1 in their last five matches after starting the season 0-3-0, but they're still looking for their first win of the season over a Western Conference opponent.
MORE FROM MORRIS: Homegrown forward Jordan Morris now has three goals in three games after scoring the decisive goal against Columbus last time out. Since moving up top from the wing position where he started the season, Morris has become the team’s leading scorer.
WONDO WATCH: San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski has seven goals already this season and is tied for most in MLS with Portland’s Fernendo Adi. His seven goals account for more than half of the Quakes' 12, and no other Earthquakes player has more than one goal this season. Wondolowski is also sitting on 116 career goals, fourth all-time in MLS history.
FINALLY FULL STRENGTH? The Sounders have been beat up early this season, missing at least one starter in every match so far this season (not including defender Román Torres, who suffered an ACL tear last September). With Clint Dempsey, Nelson Valdez, Brad Evans and Erik Friberg all back in the lineup, the Sounders may have their first choice starting XI available for the first time this season on Saturday. The only question mark will be midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz, who picked up a thigh strain in Colorado that kept him sidelined last Saturday.
DAWKINS’ MIC DROP: San Jose Designated Player Simon Dawkins showcased some alluring ability last weekend, scoring the late equalizer in Philadelphia. San Jose has scored goals in the final 10 minutes of four matches so far this season. Last Saturday, they did it a man down to earn the draw away from home.
GOOD OL' DAYS: The Sounders and Earthquakes both competed in the old NASL back in the 1970s. The teams first played each other in 1974 as members of the Western Division. The Sounders finished the year 10-7-3 to the Quakes 9-8-3, but it was the Quakes who advanced to the postseason on total goals scored.
SEATTLE TO SAN JOSE: Chad Barrett, Sanna Nyassi, Cordell Cato and Bryan Meredith are all former Sounders now playing for the Earthquakes. Barrett scored 12 goals for the Rave Green in 44 appearances, but has yet to make an appearance for the Quakes.
