Lineups are in at Crew Stadium as Sounders FC meets Columbus for the only time in 2013.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In making the lineup each week, Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid hopes to have some sort of continuity to keep the team in a rhythm.
While he isn’t starting the same 11 as he did in a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers last week, he is using the same 11 that were on the field when Eddie Johnson scored the match-winner in the 60th minute as Seattle faces the Columbus Crew for the only time this season.
Michael Gspurning starts at goalkeeper with a back four of DeAndre Yedlin, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Zach Scott and Leo Gonzalez. The midfield is Mauro Rosales on the right, Lamar Neagle on the left and a central pair of Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans. And at forward, Johnson will pair with Clint Dempsey at forward.
On the bench, Schmid will have available Marcus Hahnemann, Djimi Traore, Patrick Ianni, Marc Burch, Servando Carrasco, David Estrada and Eriq Zavaleta.
Shalrie Joseph is the lone change from the lineup against Portland, as the midfielder suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee. Obafemi Martins continues to recover from a sprained ankle and Schmid said he is hopeful to have him available when Seattle hosts Chivas USA on Wednesday.
The Columbus starting lineup is goalkeeper Matt Lampson; defenders Danny O’Rourke, Josh Williams, Chad Marshall and Agustin Viana; a midfield of Jairo Arrieta, Wil Trapp, Bernardo Anor and Justin Meram, who scored against Seattle in a 2-0 win for the Crew last year; and forwards Dominic Oduro and Ryan Finley.
The Crew bench is Daniel Withrow, former Sounder Tyson Wahl, Tony Tchani, Ethan Finley, Konrad Warzycha, Chad Barson and Kevan George.
