Sounders vs. Sporting KC playoff lineup notes
Published 6:22 pm Thursday, October 27, 2016
It’s winner-takes-all in Thursday night’s fist-round MLS playoff game between Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City at CenturyLink Field. The winner advances to the Western Conference semifinals where it will face top-seeded FC Dallas in a home-and-home set beginning Sunday.
Here’s the lineups for Thursday’s game:
SEATTLE
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Frei; J. Jones, Marshall, Torres, Mears; Friberg, Alonso (c), Fernandez, Lodeiro, Roldan; Morris.
Bench: Miller, Scott, Fisher, Evans, Kovar, Valdez, Gomez.
Notes: Seattle keeps faith with the same starting lineup that won 2-1 against Real Salt Lake on Sunday to clinch a place in the postseason. Attacking midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz (knee) remains out, so the Sounders continue to play Cristian Roldan on the right side of the attacking-midfield trio, where he’s had some success, rather than in a more defensive role. Attacker Oalex Anderson, listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury, doesn’t make the 18-man squad. Forward Clint Dempsey (irregular heartbeat) and defender Dylan Remick (concussion) are also out.
KANSAS CITY
Lineup (4-3-3): Melia; Sinovic, Besler, Ellis, Abdul-Salaam; Nagamura, Mustivar, Feilhaber; Espinoza (c), Dwyer, Zusi.
Bench: Kann, Opara, Olum, Peterson, Coelho, Medranda, Hallisey.
Notes: No real surprises in Kansas City’s lineup. Veteran winger Brad Davis was listed as questionable because of a calf injury, but he won’t play. Therefore, Roger Espinoza continues to play on the left wing, while Graham Zusi gets the call at right wing ahead of Jacob Peterson. Dom Dwyer is the danger man up front for Sporting as he led the team with 16 goals during the regular season. Benny Feilhaber is the midfield creator, coming off a season in which he had seven goals and 13 assists.
