Earthquakes-Sounders Preview
The Seattle Sounders will have to try to avenge their only home loss without their top scorers.
Star forwards Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins won't be on the field Saturday when the Sounders take on the San Jose Earthquakes.
Dempsey and Martins each have seven goals and were on target in a 3-2 loss to San Jose (5-5-4) on March 14. They won't be available Saturday for different reasons.
Dempsey is out due to a three-game suspension levied by MLS for his actions Tuesday in Seattle's 3-1 loss to Portland in the U.S. Open Cup. He was punished for a confrontation with a referee, when he grabbed a notebook from the official and tore it after a teammate was given a red card. Dempsey could face further discipline from a panel established by the U.S. Soccer Federation, but any additional suspension would be limited to U.S. Open Cup matches.
Commissioner Don Garber concluded Dempsey's behavior was "referee abuse," which requires a minimum three-game suspension, and not "referee assault," which has a minimum six-game ban.
That wild contest saw Seattle finish with seven players thanks to three red cards and an injury to Martins after the Sounders had made their three substitutions. Martins is out with a groin injury that will sideline him for at least three weeks.
"It doesn't require surgery so that's a positive situation but we've got to see how many weeks," coach Sigi Schmid said.
The coach was apologetic for his club's conduct Tuesday in a scene in which Seattle fans threw debris onto the field after the defeat. Schmid said he addressed the Sounders about the match.
"The message to our team was very simple, is that we have to stay together as a group, that we are a group, that we've got to be there for each other," Schmid said.
Seattle (9-4-2) is 6-1-1 at home and leads MLS in goal differential (plus-12), with a league-best defense that has allowed 11 goals. The Sounders are 3-1-0 in their last four in MLS after last Saturday's 3-0 home win over FC Dallas.
Midfielder Marco Pappa missed that match due to international duty with Guatemala, and he'll likely step into the lineup with Dempsey and Martins unavailable.
The Earthquakes needed to rally from two goals down to force extra time before winning on penalties to eliminate Sacramento Republic FC in their U.S. Open Cup match Tuesday. Chris Wondolowski scored twice in regulation.
"We did not come out with the right amount of attitude," coach Dominic Kinnear told the club's official website. "So give credit. I knew it was going to happen. These games are always that way."
The Earthquakes are 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings with the Sounders. Wondolowski scored twice in the last one to give him nine goals against Seattle - seven on the road.
"To be honest, I love it whether there is 40,000 fans screaming for you or against you," he said after the March contest.
The Earthquakes' last MLS match was a scoreless draw with Dallas on June 7. Mark Sherrod and JJ Koval were sent off and are suspended for Saturday.