The Seattle Sounders host FC Dallas on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS). Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.
Jordan Morris vs. Reggie Cannon
Two of the players that have seen their USMNT stock rise the most since the 2019 Gold Cup, Morris and Cannon will go head-to-head on Wednesday. It’s been well documented to this point that Morris, 24, is in the best form of his professional career. With five goals and six assists from his last nine starts, the Homegrown has been one of the most dangerous, efficient attacking players in all of MLS since July.
Cannon, 21, hasn’t been nearly as productive this season, but he plays a valuable role in head coach Luchi Gonzalez’s system. A technical, quick outside back, he possesses the motor and soccer intelligence to boss the right flank. The Cannon-Morris matchup will be one of establishing control over space. If Morris can pin back his USMNT counterpart, the Sounders will be able to push the left back forward to create overloads in the final third, a recipe that has led to a bevy of goals in 2019.
Cristian Roldan vs. Ryan Hollingshead
Roldan, who has spent most of the last three seasons as an all-action, box-to-box central midfielder, has been thriving out on the right wing. In addition to his three goals and two assists from his last four starts, the University of Washington product has racked up 28 recoveries, three tackles, one interception and ten clearances. He’ll have his hands full on Wednesday, though, as he attempts to neutralize Hollingshead, one of the most in-form full backs in the league.
The FC Dallas left has three goals, one assist and four key passes in his last six starts. In FCD’s system, the outside backs are tasked with both assisting in the build-up play and bombing forward to provide overlapping and underlapping runs. Roldan, who possesses one of the best motors in MLS, will need to track his counterpart’s movement all evening, taking away one of their most productive attacking contributors.
Xavier Arreaga vs. Zdenek Ondrášek
Speaking of positive form, Sounders center back Arreaga has put in some solid defensive shifts of late, most notably in wins over the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers. Now that he has acclimated to MLS, the young Ecuadorian defender has been able to show his class and composure, exhibiting excellent defensive technique and a ranginess that enables him to cover plenty of ground.
His development will be put to the test on Wednesday, as he squares off against Dallas’ red-hot striker, Ondrášek. Dubbed “The Cobra” by supporters, the Czech striker has compiled four goals and two assists from his last four appearances. However, the true matchup will be whether Ondrášek can disrupt Arreaga’s excellent distribution out of the back by high-pressing. Seattle’s center back is one of the best ball-playing center backs in MLS, and his ability to break lines will be critical on Wednesday night.
