NEW YORK — After playing three games across all competitions since five players left for international duty, the Seattle Sounders will at last have Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Joevin Jones, Roman Torres and Oniel Fisher available for Saturday’s away match at New York City FC (10 a.m. PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM El Rey 1360AM).
Morris and Dempsey led the United States to a win over Jones’ Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup Qualifying before earning a massive road point at Estadio Azteca against Mexico. T&T fell to the United States and Costa Rica, while Panama drew Costa Rica before tying Honduras on a 90th-minute equalizer from Torres. Fisher was away with Jamaica for Caribbean Cup.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer is excited to have all of them available for selection as the Sounders look to build on four wins from their last five in all competitions.
“Everybody is happy to have them back,” Schmetzer said on Friday at NYCFC’s training facility in White Plains, N.Y.
“I’m happy to get back into a rhythm with my teammates,” said Jones. “I think [NYCFC] has a very good attack, they score a lot of goals at home. We have to be aware of that and try to stop the counterattacks.”
One of the biggest challenges facing Seattle will be slowing down prolific striker David Villa, who is tied for third in MLS with eight goals this season. The Spaniard is as talented a finisher anywhere in the world, so keeping him off the scoresheet is a must on Saturday.
“[Slowing him down] is going to take a team effort,” Schmetzer said. “He’s obviously a world-class player, a World Cup winner. Their team runs a lot through him, so we’ll need [Osvaldo Alonso] to be sharp, we’ll need the center backs to be sharp. It’s going to require full team defense.”
The Sounders should be well rested after utilizing mostly USL and first-team reserve players in their 2-1 U.S. Open Cup win over the Portland Timbers on Tuesday. NYCFC opted to start nearly a first-choice lineup in their 1-0 loss to Red Bull New York on Wednesday and saw Designated Player Maxi Moralez exit with an injury, one which will keep him out on Saturday.
Schmetzer is pleased to have the fresh bodies available coupled with his returning internationals and is also pleased to have Henry Wingo back into the mix. Wingo came on as a second-half substitute on Tuesday, his first minutes since April 29 after suffering an ankle injury. Left back Nouhou also started on Tuesday and impressed as well, setting up Aaron Kovar’s third-minute goal.
“It’s good to have everybody back because it makes my job a little more difficult,” Schmetzer said. “Nouhou got a taste of the first team, Henry, Seyi [Adekoya] is on the trip. Results will follow on the field when we’ve got everybody healthy and ready to go.”
