After suffering their first defeat in a six game unbeaten run, the Sounders will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they head on the short road trip to BC Place to take on rivals Vancouver.
This will be the first game of the 2012 Cascadia Cup and Seattle will be hoping to get an early 3 points to help them on their way to another Cascadia Cup. Seattle are currently tied with Vancouver with 3 trophies won, and Seattle will want to make it back to back trophy wins and take them into the lead with 4 overall.
After last weeks loss to current Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake, Seattle will be hoping they can emulate the run they had before their loss, which started funnily with another 1-0 loss to San Jose Earthquakes. This was the first time Brian Meredith had been beaten in 3 1/2 hours of football since coming on for the injured Gspurning.
While Brian Meredith will keep his place in the starting 11 as Gspurning (hip) is still injured, Ianni (back), Evans (calf) and Gonzalez (quad) will miss out on a place as they rest in the stand. One positive for the road trip is the possibility of a return for Fernandez from injury, after his long absence from the first team.
With the absence of Evans from the midfield, I would like to see Alex Caskey placed along side Alonso as I feel he will play the role that Evans plays each week, with ease.
Before last weeks scoreless loss, Seattle’s attacking line up had torn apart previous teams with 8 goals in 5 games, 3 of those coming from Fredy Montero who finally opened his account for the season.
With Vancouver sitting in 4th place, just behind Seattle in 3rd, they can bring themselves to within 2 points of their rivals. Not only is that an incentive but it will also bring about bragging rights for the first game of the 2012 Cascadia Cup. I believe it is going to be a close and entertaining game but everyone knows form goes out of the window when derby matches take place.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
