SOUNDERS (0-3-0)
Squad (4-3-3): Frei; Mears, Evans (c), Marshall, Remick; Alonso, Roldan, Dempsey; Kovar, Valdez, Ivanschitz.
Bench: Miller, Scott, Fisher, J. Jones, Morris, Anderson, Gomez.
Notes: The Sounders, after starting the season with three consecutive defeats and scoring just two goals in the process, ring the changes up front. Wunderkind forward Jordan Morris will be on the bench, a move that coach Sigi Schmid hinted may happen as Morris is still recovering emotionally after he and the U.S. under-23 national team came up short against Colombia in its bid to qualify for the Olympics. Aaron Kovar starts in Morris’ spot. Also, Clint Dempsey, fresh off recording a goal and an assist in the U.S. senior national team’s vital 4-0 victory over Guatemala in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday, switches into midfield with Andreas Ivanschitz moving up to forward. New signing Herculez Gomez, a former U.S. international forward, is in the matchday squad for the first time as a Sounder as he’s on the bench.
There’s two other changes from the team that fell 2-1 at home to Vancouver Whitecaps FC two weeks ago. Left back Joevin Jones is also on the bench after picking up a slight knock while on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago, with Dylan Remick filling in. The other change sees captain Brad Evans return to the center of defense after missing two games because of a shoulder injury, with Zach Scott returning to the bench.
One other thing worth noting from the week is that right back Tyrone Mears, a native of England, was granted his green card. That frees up an international roster spot for the Sounders.
IMPACT (2-1-0)
Squad (4-2-3-1): Bush; Toia, Ciman, Cabrera, Camara; Alexander, Bekker; Piatti (c), Shipp, Ontivero; Oduro.
Bench: Kronberg, Lefevre, Tissot, Bernier, Mallace, Venegas, Jackson-Hammel.
Notes: The most significant lineup note for Montreal is that star forward Didier Drogba is not in the squad. Drogba, the former star at the English club Chelsea who scored 11 goals in 11 games last season for the Impact, has said he won’t play on artificial surfaces this season. Forward Cameron Porter (hamstring) and midfielder Andreas Romero (knee) are out injured. Midfielder Patrice Bernier, the team’s captain, is on the bench after not appearing in the team’s first three games because of a hamstring injury.
The danger man is Argentinian playmaker Ignacio Piatti, who already has three goals and two assists, while Belgian center back Laurent Ciman is the reigning MLS Defender of the Year.
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