Sounders set for busy late June, early July
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) - If the Seattle Sounders thought they were busy back in May when they played five league matches in 15 days, that stretch will seem easy compared to what awaits the Sounders in the next few weeks.
Seattle's hectic stretch begins on Saturday when the Sounders travel to MLS newcomer Montreal for the first game at the Impact's soccer specific stadium. Then comes a midweek home match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. That's followed by the renewal of the most heated rivalry in the league when Seattle travels to Portland on June 24. Two days later, the Sounders try to keep their hopes alive for a fourth straight U.S. Open Cup title with a match in San Francisco against San Jose.
Oh, and if that wasn't a tough enough stretch, Seattle closes out its crazy few weeks with a cross-country trip to New England for a match on June 30, a game on July 4 at Real Salt Lake and a home match July 7 vs. Colorado.
That's seven matches in two different competitions in just 21 days.
"It's going to be a little bit harder with the flight and the travel and especially having to play on Tuesday in the Open Cup game and then going back to New England," Seattle defender Marc Burch said. "That's a little bit tougher but we have the personnel to do it. We'll need a few more subs than last time but I think they're available now so I think that Is really going to help."
Seattle sits in third place in the Western Conference with 24 points, five behind Salt Lake, but having played one less game. When the Sounders land in Montreal they'll be stepping back into MLS play for the first time since a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA on May 26.
That doesn't mean the Sounders have been completely relaxing. Mixed in during Seattle's three-week break from league play were a pair of wins over lower-division clubs in the Open Cup. The time off allowed a number of Sounders players to get healthy, although starting goalkeeper Michael Gspurning is still not fully recovered from a hip injury.
Seattle better hope everyone is rested considering the challenge it's about to face.
An additional layer to this weekend's match in Montreal is that striker Eddie Johnson very likely could have ended up playing for the Impact. When Johnson made the decision to return to the MLS, the Impact were first in line in the allocation draft. Seattle traded away two promising young players in Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle to acquire the rights to select and sign Johnson. The move has produced mixed results so far, with Johnson slowed by an injury early in the season and scoring three goals in 10 games played.
"For me it's just all about what we're trying to accomplish here," Johnson said. "I don't know what type of reception I'm going to get. But I'm just going to put my head down and, whatever my role is in the game this weekend, I just want to go out there and make a contribution and get the team back to winning ways."
Seattle's hectic stretch begins on Saturday when the Sounders travel to MLS newcomer Montreal for the first game at the Impact's soccer specific stadium. Then comes a midweek home match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. That's followed by the renewal of the most heated rivalry in the league when Seattle travels to Portland on June 24. Two days later, the Sounders try to keep their hopes alive for a fourth straight U.S. Open Cup title with a match in San Francisco against San Jose.
Oh, and if that wasn't a tough enough stretch, Seattle closes out its crazy few weeks with a cross-country trip to New England for a match on June 30, a game on July 4 at Real Salt Lake and a home match July 7 vs. Colorado.
That's seven matches in two different competitions in just 21 days.
"It's going to be a little bit harder with the flight and the travel and especially having to play on Tuesday in the Open Cup game and then going back to New England," Seattle defender Marc Burch said. "That's a little bit tougher but we have the personnel to do it. We'll need a few more subs than last time but I think they're available now so I think that Is really going to help."
Seattle sits in third place in the Western Conference with 24 points, five behind Salt Lake, but having played one less game. When the Sounders land in Montreal they'll be stepping back into MLS play for the first time since a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA on May 26.
That doesn't mean the Sounders have been completely relaxing. Mixed in during Seattle's three-week break from league play were a pair of wins over lower-division clubs in the Open Cup. The time off allowed a number of Sounders players to get healthy, although starting goalkeeper Michael Gspurning is still not fully recovered from a hip injury.
Seattle better hope everyone is rested considering the challenge it's about to face.
An additional layer to this weekend's match in Montreal is that striker Eddie Johnson very likely could have ended up playing for the Impact. When Johnson made the decision to return to the MLS, the Impact were first in line in the allocation draft. Seattle traded away two promising young players in Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle to acquire the rights to select and sign Johnson. The move has produced mixed results so far, with Johnson slowed by an injury early in the season and scoring three goals in 10 games played.
"For me it's just all about what we're trying to accomplish here," Johnson said. "I don't know what type of reception I'm going to get. But I'm just going to put my head down and, whatever my role is in the game this weekend, I just want to go out there and make a contribution and get the team back to winning ways."
