Welcome to CenturyLink Field for the second-to-last home game of the regular season. Sounders FC should pass 680,000 in total attendance tonight.
Here is a reminder of what Seattle stands to claim tonight:
— A playoff berth with a win OR a San Jose loss/tie tonight.
— The Cascadia Cup with a win or tie.
— The best record in the Western Conference with a win.
— The best record in MLS with a win, as long as Sporting KC doesn’t win tonight.
As another reminder, Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans are away with the national team (and it sounds like EJ might’ve picked up an injury in training). Zach Scott is suspended, but Clint Dempsey should be good to go. He said as much on Twitter/Instagram, but that could still mean off the bench. We’ll see what roles Obafemi Martins and Djimi Traore are ready for, as well.
Vancouver stands to be eliminated from the playoff race tonight, so expect a motivated opponent.
I’ll post lineups here when they become available:
Sounders FC lineup: GK Michael Gspurning, D DeAndre Yedlin, D Djimi Traore, D Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, D Marc Burch, M Mauro Rosales, M Osvaldo Alonso, M Andy Rose, M David Estrada, F Lamar Neagle, F Obafemi Martins
Sounders FC bench: GK Marcus Hahnemann, D Patrick Ianni, D Dylan Remick, M Adam Moffat, M Steve Zakuani, F Eriq Zavaleta, F Clint Dempsey
Vancouver lineup: GK David Ousted; D Young-Pyo Lee, D Carlyle Mitchell, D Jay DeMerit, D Jordan Harvey; M Nigel Reo-Coker, M Jun Marques Davidson, M Daigo Kobayashi, M Matt Watson; F Kekutah Manneh, F Camilo
Vancouver bench: GK Brad Knighton, F Erik Hurtado, M Gershon Koffie, F Tom Heinemann, M Russell Teibert, D Greg Klazura, D Andy O’Brien
NOTES: This is the team’s 35th lineup in 36 games. Obafemi Martins and Djimi Traore return after missing last week’s game, and Andy Rose and David Estrada are a couple new additions. Clint Dempsey starts out on the bench, along with Steve Zakuani (two more guys out over the weekend). No Alex Caskey. It seems he’s fallen to the bottom of the depth chart. Adam Moffat comes out after starting last game.