2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group B, Matchday 3
Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Fri., July 10 – 9:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes; TSN, TVA Sports in Canada
STREAMING: ESPN App in USA; TSN App in Canada
The Seattle Sounders resume their defense of their 2019 MLS Cup title when they take on Matias Almeyda's San Jose Earthquakes in Group B play of the MLS is Back Tournament.
- Champs open tournament: "There's a target on our backs"
- Almeyda's message to Quakes: Be like Disney characters, transmit happiness
- MLS's ultimate tournament team gets a fresh new test vs. San Jose
- Quakes promise surprises up their sleeve for MLS is Back opponents
- Concerns for Sounders: Central defense and Lodeiro's form
- Can Quakes keep up high-octane style in Orlando heat?
- Sounders make another Homegrown signing before Tournament
- SJ striker Hoesen discusses racist message he received
- The special boots one Seattle player will be wearing vs. Quakes
- Quakes club legend predicts quarterfinal run for Almeyda's squad
- Sounders explain decision to travel to Orlando in Black Lives Matter shirts
Seattle look to be locked and loaded once again, with star playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro healthy and ready to go after missing the entirety of Seattle's Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series against Club Olimpia and each of their first two league games with hamstring tendinitis.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer has also been integrating a pair of newcomers who look primed to make an impact in Brazilian midfielder Joao Paulo and Colombian center back Yeimar Gomez Andrade, though reports indicate that Joao Paulo may be hampered by a quad injury and he's listed as questionable.
Although Seattle have an unbeaten 5W-0L-4D record in their last nine outings against San Jose (they last lost in June 2015), the Quakes have historically played Seattle tough. Almeyda has lamented the fact that he's only had 12 days of full-team training to prepare for the tournament. San Jose were the first team to land in Orlando, arriving early due to the restrictions that limited them to individual training in their home market.
Seattle Sounders
Seattle are an undefeated 1W-0L-1D coming into the tournament, topping Chicago Fire FC 2-1 at CenturyLink Field on March 1 courtesy of a second-half brace from Jordan Morris that he capped off with a stoppage-time game-winner, and drawing Columbus Crew SC 1-1 at home on March 7.
The return of playmaker Lodeiro surely helps, but front man Raul Ruidiaz has already proven to be a lethal striker in tournament play: In six total matches in the 2018 and 2019 playoffs he has seven goals and four assists.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Will Bruin (F) - right knee injury
- QUESTIONABLE: João Paulo (M) - right quad strain
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Toronto FC at home on Feb. 29 thanks to a free-kick golazo at the death from new defender Oswaldo Alanis, before they were blown out 5-2 by Minnesota United at Earthquakes Stadium on March 7.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Marcos Lopez (D) - appendectomy
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup
- Sounders: 11 wins, 33 goals
- Earthquakes: 10 wins, 29 goals
- 6 draws
Officials
- Referee: Drew Fischer
- Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
- 4th Official: Armando Villarreal
- VAR: Victor Rivas
