The Seattle Sounders are taking on the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1, FOX Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Here is the Delta Starting XI:
NOTES:
- Tyler Miller starts in goal for Stefan Frei, who suffered a right hamstring strain in Seattle just prior to the team’s departure for Houston. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer does not expect the injury to be long term, with Seattle hoping for Frei’s return next Thursday, November 30 at home in Leg 2.
- Miller, 24, has seven career appearances across all competitions for the First Team with his last regular-season start coming on July 19 in a 4-3 win over D.C. United. He also started both of the Sounders’ Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches this summer.
- Jordan Morris (hamstring strain) did not travel to Houston, but Schmetzer said he may be an option for Leg 2 next week.
- Captain Osvaldo Alonso will also miss Leg 1 with a right quad strain. Gustav Svensson, who entered as a substitute in the two matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference Semifinals, returns to the starting lineup in central midfield alongside Cristian Roldan.
