Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 24
Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
CenturyLink Field – Seattle
November 8 – 6:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: NBC Sports California, JOEtv, Amazon Prime Video [SEA region only]

The Seattle Sounders are hoping to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference when they host a San Jose Earthquakes side attempting to improve their Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs position on Decision Day presented by AT&T Sunday at CenturyLink Field. 

The Sounders (10W-5L-6D) are third in the West, but can finish atop the conference with a win over the Earthquakes, a Sporting Kansas City lose or tie vs. Real Salt Lake and a Portland lose or tie vs. LAFC. The Earthquakes (8W-8L-6D) are eighth in the West after clinching their first postseason berth in three years with a 3-2 win over LAFC Wednesday at Earthquakes Stadium. 

• Playoff scenarios:How Decision Day could impact the playoff field
• What's at stake: Key races to watch for during Decision Day's 13 games
• Playoff schedule:Match schedule, dates, times and TV details
  

The teams are meeting for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on Oct. 18, the teams reached a goalless draw at Earthquakes Stadium. On Sept. 10 at CenturyLink Field, Sounders FC became the ninth team in MLS history to score at least seven goals in a game, rolling to a 7-1 win. The Sounders scored five goals in the opening 33 minutes of the game, then the fastest five goals from the start of a match in MLS history, tying the record for most goals in the first half in league annals. The teams also reached a goalless draw in the opening match for both teams at the MLS is Back Tournament on July 10.

Sounders FC have a 12-game undefeated streak alive in the overall series.

Seattle Sounders

Raul Ruidiaz struck for the stoppage-time equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy Wednesday night, but Brian Schmetzer wasn't exactly celebrating after the final whistle. 

After the match, Schmetzer said he's well aware that the Sounders will need to reach another gear to make a run at a repeat title something he imparted on the players in the postgame locker room.

“So the question I posed to them after I congratulated them on a well-deserved goal at the end was, ‘Does this hurt’?" Schmetzer said. "How are we going to win a championship? What if we have to go on the road and play against a strong team? Is this good enough? How are we going to repeat as champions? This actually has to hurt because it’s two points lost.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Shane O’Neill (D) - concussion protocol
  • QUESTIONABLE: Brad Smith (D) - right adductor strain
  • QUESTIONABLE: Gustav Svensson (M) - hip contusion
• Suspended: Yeimar Gomez Andrade (D)
• Suspended after next caution: Joao Paulo (M)
• International duty:  None

San Jose Earthquakes

Despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, the Earthquakes rallied from an early deficit to defeat LAFC to secure a postseason berth for just the second time since 2012. In a season, and year, like none other, Chris Wondolowski, who scored his 166th career goal in the win, figures its fitting his team has reached the playoffs. 

“We joke, and I say this facetiously, that our team is made for 2020, 2020 is crazy. We’re mayhem. That’s what our team is made for,” Wondolowski said after the match. “It’s why we love it. I wish we could be a little bit sharper and didn’t have to endure all the valleys. I love how high the mountains are. We have to make sure our valleys aren’t too low and stay more even keeled, but our team is made for 2020.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Danny Hoesen (F) - core muscles injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Carlos Fierro (M) - thigh injury
• Suspended: Andres Rios (M), Jackson Yueill (M)
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at Sounders

• Sounders: 12 wins, 40 goals
• Earthquakes: 10 wins, 30 goals
• 8 draws

Officials

• Referee: Jair Marrufo
• Assistant Referees: Jason White, Jeff Hosking
• 4th Official: Ramy Touchan
• VAR: Jon Freemon