The Seattle Sounders host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday for the first of two meetings in the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 5-1-1 (16 points, 3rd West), Earthquakes: 2-5-0 (6 points, 9th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LWWDW, San Jose: WLWLL
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 10-10-5 all-time against San Jose, including an 8-5-1 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle hosted San Jose on 2018 MLS Decision Day, when the Sounders secured a 2-1 victory that catapulted the team into 2nd in the Western Conference. The Earthquakes drew first blood in the 63rd minute as Danny Hoesen’s deflected cross careened into the net. Raúl Ruidíaz equalized in the 79th minute and then secured three massive points with only 30 seconds remaining in stoppage time, smashing a first-time shot past the goalkeeper.
BOUNCE BACK: The Rave Green suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling 4-1 to LAFC at Banc of California Stadium. With a midweek fixture against San Jose, the team has an immediate opportunity to return to winning ways.
HERITAGE MATCH: The Sounders will be celebrating their roots on Wednesday with a heritage-themed evening including throwback signage, videos and the 1983 Sounders logo.
RECENT HERITAGE: Seattle has been rather dominant against San Jose in recent years. The Sounders are 4-0-3 in their last seven outings against against the Earthquakes and have not lost a regular season game to them since June 20, 2015. This series also provided one of the most iconic goals in club history when Obafemi Martins lobbed Jon Busch from an absurd angle back, which earned him 2014 MLS Goal of the Year.
NIGHTFALL HOME DEBUT: The Sounders will wear their new black and pink Nightfall kits on Wednesday for the first time at home. Seattle has worn them once this season in a 4-2 win at the Chicago Fire on March 16.
WONDO WATCH: Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski is second in career MLS goals with 144, trailing former LA Galaxy and USMNT forward Landon Donovan by one tally.
SAMPLE SIZE: Much of San Jose’s recent success is down to the team finally implementing Matias Almeyda’s man-marking defensive system. It was a wildcard for their opponents in wins over the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City, but the Sounders should be well prepared, as they faced this unique scheme when Almeyda employed it with Chivas de Guadalajara in the 2018 Concacaf Champions League.
TIME TO REST: Ruidíaz (right heel contusion), Chad Marshall (right knee inflammation) and Will Bruin (left hamstring strain) did not travel to Los Angeles, giving them time to rest and heal ahead of Wednesday’s midweek clash.
HOESEN’S HOT HAND: San Jose’s recent fortunes can also be chalked up to the scoring touch of Hoesen, who has three goals in his last three matches.
CREATIVE FORCE: Víctor Rodríguez recorded his 10th career MLS regular-season assist on Sunday, setting up Seattle’s lone goal. Add in the playoffs and the Spanish winger has nine goals and 13 assists from 39 appearances.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT: Over the weekend, Sounders Academy became the first MLS side to win the Generation adidas Cup Champions Division, defeating elite international sides Flamengo, River Plate, West Ham and Valencia CF en route to the title.
