Considering the Seattle Sounders just won the Open Cup on Tuesday, it's almost impossible to believe that there's another match today, and that this match won't bring any new silverware to the cabinet. It seems like the team should have had a bit more time to celebrate, to revel in the trophy. Instead it's on to Kansas City for one of the last matches of the MLS season.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just any old match, however--a draw means that Seattle will have clinched a spot in the playoffs. With such an important game tonight, expect Sigi Schmid to go with his standard starting XI. While it was expected that Sanna Nyassi would be away on national team duty with Gambia this weekend, he is in fact in Kansas City with the Sounder. Considering Nyassi has scored three goals in his last two matches, it is almost certain he will earn the start.
Announced lineups:
Sounders FC lineup: GK Keller, D Riley, D Ianni, D Parke, D Gonzalez, M Alonso, M Sturgis, M Nyassi, M Zakuani, F Montero, F Nkufo
Reserves: GK Terry Boss, D Zach Scott, D Tyrone Marshall, M Mike Seamon, M Alvaro Fernandez, M/F Mike Fucito, F Nate Jaqua
Kansas City XI: GK Nielsen, D Espinoza, D Besler, D Conrad, D Harrington, M Kamara, M Rocastle, M Jewsbury, M Arnaud, M Smith, F Bunbury;
Reserves: GK Eric Kronberg, M Graham Zusi, M Birahim Diop, D Korede Aiyegbusi, F Josh Wolff, M Stephane Auvray, D Jonathan Leathers
As always, significant events will be updated in this thread, while you can join game thread chatter at Sounder at Heart.