Sounders-Crew Preview

There aren't many clubs that can keep pace offensively with the Seattle Sounders' duo of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. While the Columbus Crew may lack comparable names in terms of clout, they'll put their production at home up against anyone.

The problem is they've never won a home match against the Sounders, who are returning to Columbus with plenty of the Crew's history in tow.

The league's top scoring pair meets the top home scoring team Saturday night with Seattle seeking a fourth straight win and fourth in five trips to Columbus.

"We're capable of beating any team, we know that," Crew defender Chris Klute told the club's official website. "It's going to be a tough task, though, there's no question. Seattle's a good team and they have, overall, a very well-balanced team. And you add to that two of the league's best attacking players, so it's going to be tough."

It's been especially tough lately for opponents of Seattle (5-2-1), which has a 7-2 scoring advantage in three straight wins. In Sunday's 3-1 win at New York City FC, Martins scored twice and Dempsey once.

The two have accounted for the club's last five goals and 11 of 13 this season, with Martins scoring six and both ranking among the league leaders. Last season, Martins had 17 goals and Dempsey added 15.

"For me, as a coach, I've never had a better duo than those two," coach Sigi Schmid told the league's official website. "In terms of just guys who are lethal and can finish, it's probably the best pair of forwards I've ever had the chance to work together with."

Lamar Neagle is the only other Sounders player to score, and they might welcome a little more finishing diversity.

Columbus (3-3-2) has been a bit better in that regard with 12 goals from five different players, and 10 of those strikes have come in four home matches. Prior to last Saturday's 2-0 loss at D.C. United, the Crew had scored seven goals in back-to-back home victories, but the Sounders have scored six in two straight road victories.

Chad Marshall makes up part of a back line that'll be charged with slowing the Crew's pace, and it'll be the defender's first game back in Columbus since being traded to Seattle before the 2014 season. The reigning MLS Defender of the Year spent 10 seasons with the Crew, twice winning the same award in that span.

In Seattle, he's been reunited with fellow defender Brad Evans and Schmid. The trio helped the 2008 Crew to the franchise's only MLS Cup title before Evans was selected by Seattle in the expansion draft after the 2008 season.

Schmid followed and his success in Columbus has gone on uninterrupted, posting a 3-0-1 record with a 7-1 scoring advantage as the visiting coach.

"I think he still has that same hunger, that same drive he had however many years ago it was," said Marshall, whose back line has allowed a goal or less in seven of eight matches. "He's very dedicated to what he does and wants to win championships. I think he's a little bit more relaxed back on the West Coast, but he still has that same drive."

The Crew won the only meeting last season 2-1 in Seattle on March 29, 2014.