Chris Wondolowski scored two goals for the U.S. National Team against Cuba on Saturday, so San Jose will look elsewhere for scoring when they face Sounders FC.
Sounders FC @ San Jose Earthquakes
July 13, 2013, 7:30 pm PT; Buck Shaw Stadium
TV/Radio: KING 5; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; KOMO2 (Spanish); La Gran D 99.3 FM (Spanish)
San Jose’s Record: One season after winning the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in MLS, the Earthquakes are 5-9-6 and eighth in the Western Conference.
All-time series: The Earthquakes lead the all-time regular season series at 6-5-1, including a record of 3-1-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The series is even in all competitions, as Seattle topped San Jose 1-0 in the Open Cup quarterfinals last year to make the series 6-6-1.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: GK Josh Ford (R patella fracture); M Steve Zakuani (athletic pubalgia); M Alex Caskey (R ankle impingement); GK Marcus Hahnemann (R hamstring strain); M Andy Rose (R hamstring strain); M Philip Lund (R plantar fasciitis). Earthquakes – OUT: D Ty Harden (R hip surgery); F Mike Fucito (R ankle fracture); D Nana Attakora (Concussion related symptoms). QUESTIONABLE: D Tommy Muller (lower back spasms). PROBABLE: F Steven Lenhart (head contusion/laceration).
Key player: Shea Salinas leads San Jose with five assists on the season and is second with 12 shots on goal, although he only has one goal to show for it. Without leading scorer and 2012 MLS MVP Chris Wondlowski in the lineup due to international duty, they will likely look to Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart to provide the scoring up front, but it will be Salinas and Sam Cronin that will be the creative forces for San Jose. In 10 matches against Seattle, Salinas has a team-high four assists.
Notes: San Jose will be without Wondolowski, newly signed defender Clarence Goodson and their 2012 assist leader Marvin Chavez as all three are away on national team duty for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. … Scoring first has been key for Seattle this year. They are 7-0-2 when they score first and 0-6-0 when they allow the first goal. … Forward Obafemi Martins and midfielder Shalrie Jospeh were both ruled out for the match by Sigi Schmid on Friday. … San Jose added former Leicester City and Watford left back Jordan Stewart this week. … If midfielder Brad Evans appears in the match, he will become just the third player in Sounders FC history to play in 100 MLS regular season matches for Seattle, joining Osvaldo Alonso and Fredy Montero. … A win on Saturday would give Seattle their best-ever record at the midway point of the season.
