Sounders

Daily coverage of Seattle Sounders FC, MLS and world soccer.

The Sounders return to practice this morning after a long journey back from Monterrey, Mexico. They have the weekend off in MLS action to focus on Tuesday’s second leg of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Tigres UANL.

We should be getting an update on ticket sales later today, so look out for that.

Until then, some links:

*     *     *

— In your daily Obafemi Martins update, the Nigerian forward played 90 minutes for Levante UD in the 0-0 first leg of a UEFA Europa League Round of 16 game Thursday against Russia’s Rubin Kazan. The president of the Spanish club apparently said he thinks Martins will stay until June. According to reports, there has been no contact between the Sounders and Levante since Monday.

— Martins, who recently has received a call-up to the Nigerian national team, also missed Friday’s practice due to stomach issues.

— Joe Roth and Adrian Hanauer were ranked very high on this list of the top 50 most powerful people in U.S. soccer. Hope Solo and Alex Morgan also feature.

— Here’s another story interviewing Christian Tiffert, who according to Google’s internet translation is “pissed off” at how things transpired with the Sounders. He apparently was told he’d be back this season by the coaches and had possibly even gotten a house here.

— The U.S. women’s national team earned another big win at the Algarve Cup, beating China 5-0. Reign FC’s Megan Rapinoe notched one of the goals.

— Around MLS, Carlos Ruiz had some interesting things to say in an interview with ExtraTime Radio, D.C. United’s young star Nick DeLeon got a tattoo that’s getting some attention, and New York’s Juninho looks to be out for this weekend’s game.

— Not sure if you caught videos for Goal of the Week and Save of the Week.

— The Galaxy earned a 0-0 tie in CCL action Thursday against Herediano. Be sure to check out this story on the Costa Rican team’s owner.

— Here’s a video on the MLS Disciplinary Committee and how they handle things.

— The Seattle U men’s soccer team announced a signing class of six the other day.

— Here’s a roundup of Thursday’s Europa League action and Soccer By Ives has a great compilation of international headlines from the past couple days.

— Lastly, the Sounders Women’s have hired Zahra Lechak as the team’s new assistant coach. “I am very excited for this opportunity to work with the Sounders Organization; Lane Smith, Jon Billings, Lesle Gallimore and Hubert Busby Jr., to continue the traditions of Sounders Women soccer,” said Lechak, a former Sounders Women’s player, in a news release. “We’ll continue to not only provide opportunities for competitive soccer for our players but to also achieve a high level of success as we have in the past.”