SEATTLE – Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso picked up his first red card in three years on Wednesday night against the Houston Dynamo, forcing him out of the team’s crucial match on Sunday at FC Dallas.
Alonso was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute for making contact to the face of Dynamo forward Will Bruin as the two scuffled near midfield. Head referee Drew Fischer consulted with his assistants before ultimately showing Alonso a red and Bruin a yellow for their part in the altercation.
Alonso has enjoyed one of his best seasons with the Sounders to date, leading the club this season in starts (31) and minutes played (2,734) and leading all MLS players in touches (2,725) and passes (2,169) heading into Wednesday night’s game.
The last time the Sounders played without Alonso came on July 24, when they suffered a 3-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
Alonso has now received three red cards in his eight-year career with the Sounders, with the only other two coming during the 2013 season.
