If the Sounders are going to earn their first MLS victory of the season this weekend, they’ll have to do so short-handed. Forwards Eddie Johnson and Obafemi Martins and midfielder Mario Martinez have all been called in by their respective national teams for World Cup qualifiers, which means Seattle will be without all three for Saturday’s game in San Jose (the Earthquakes will be without defenders Justin Morrow and Victor Bernardez).
Johnson will be with the U.S. National team for Friday’s game in Denver against Costa Rica, and a March 26 game against Mexico in Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca. Johnson, 28, has been a regular on Jurgen Klinsmann’s teams since being called in for World Cup qualifying last fall. Prior to reviving his career with the Sounders, Johnson had not been called up by the U.S. team since 2010.
Martinez, who has been a standout for Honduras on the international stage, will represent his country in games against Mexico and Panama.
Martins, Seattle’s newest designated player signing who made his Sounders debut off the bench in Saturday’s 1-1 tie with Portland, will join Nigeria for a game against Kenya on Saturday.
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