SATURDAY’S GAME
Opponent: Columbus Crew
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV: KONG 6/16
Radio: 97.3 KIRO
The streak
Seattle (9-7-11, 38 points) is looking to snap the Crew’s 22-game home unbeaten streak. Columbus leads the Eastern Conference with a 12-4-10 record (46 points).
Back in Columbus
Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid returns to Crew Stadium for the first time since guiding Columbus to its first MLS Cup championship last November. Schmid served three seasons as head coach of the Crew.
Searching for ‘Mr. October’
For the Sounders FC to become the first expansion team in 11 years to reach the postseason, it’s going to need some players to fulfill the role of “Mr. October.”
Forward Fredy Montero firmly stamped his footprint on September. Montero scored three of the club’s five goals in Major League Soccer and Open Cup play. Montero begins the week tied for third in MLS in scoring with 12 goals. A top contender for MLS Newcomer of the Year, Montero has scored four goals in the past five away matches.
Zakuani returns to Ohio
Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Steve Zakuani is sure to have many supporters on hand as he returns to Ohio, where he starred for two seasons at the University of Akron. He was named the 2008 Soccer America collegiate player of the year after scoring 20 goals in 23 games for the Zips.
In his last visit to Columbus, on Nov. 8, 2008, Zakuani scored two goals and assisted on two others in a 4-3 overtime win over Ohio State. The Zips later eliminated the Buckeyes in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Akron is 126 miles northeast of Columbus.
Lineup changes
Two changes were made to the starting lineup last week in New England, and at least one alteration will come Saturday in Columbus. Brad Evans moved back into central midfield and Nate Jaqua returned to the lineup at outside right against the Revolution. Jaqua, who picked up his fifth yellow card, will miss the Crew match because of a one-game suspension. Sebastien Le Toux, who had started at right midfield against Chivas USA on Sept. 19, was not available for the New England match because of illness.
Information provided by Sounders FC
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