Earthquakes-Sounders Preview

Jordan Morris' emergence has the Seattle Sounders making noise again, though they've often been silenced in recent meetings with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Vying for a fourth straight victory at home, the surging Sounders also look to end a five-game winless drought against San Jose on Saturday night.

After opening the season with three consecutive losses, Seattle (3-4-1) has started to climb out of its early hole by recording three wins and a tie over its following five games. Morris has been a major part of the rise, netting his first three MLS goals over the last three.

The highly touted 21-year-old extended his streak by converting a rebound in the 88th minute of Saturday's 1-0 victory over visiting Columbus.

"I think he is getting his confidence, for sure," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. "We said once he got that first goal, then he'll feel better about himself and he'll have that weight off his shoulders. Now he feels more confident."

Schmid hopes his team's improved play can now lead to better results within the conference. The Sounders have won all three matches against the East but are 0-4-1 versus the West.

"We need to do well in conference," he said. "Hopefully the confidence that we've gained in the last five matches is able to carry us into this game as well."

San Jose (4-2-3) should be feeling good heading into its lone 2016 trip to CenturyLink Field, where it left with a win in both visits last season. The Earthquakes are 3-0-2 against the Sounders in MLS play, limiting them to four goals, since a 1-0 defeat in Seattle in May 2014.

Though winless through four road matches, the Earthquakes did earn a tough point at Philadelphia last Saturday when Simon Dawkins' late goal with San Jose a man down forged a 1-all draw.

"It was really hard-fought from us guys to be down to 10 men," Dawkins said. "But we dug in, stuck together and thankfully we got a point away from home."

A red card to Anibal Godoy in the 59th minute left the Earthquakes short-handed and will force the valuable midfielder out of Saturday's match. Forward Quincy Amarikwa is uncertain to return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him against Philadelphia.

San Jose still has a healthy Chris Wondolowski, tied for the league lead with seven goals. The 33-year-old, a possible teammate of Morris on the United States' Copa America roster, scored twice in a 3-2 win at Seattle on March 14, 2015.

Sounders midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz (quadriceps) may be unavailable for a second straight week, but captain Brad Evans returns from suspension for a red card in a 3-1 loss at Colorado on April 23.

San Jose won 2-0 in its last visit to Seattle on June 20. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their most recent matchup Sept. 12.