Seattle carries 14-match unbeaten streak against San Jose in regular season play; Sounders FC again qualifies for Extreme Hardship and has pair of Tacoma Defiance players available via Short-Term Loans
SEATTLE, WASH. – After its first home loss of the season last weekend vs. Sporting Kansas City, Sounders FC hosts the San Jose Earthquakes in a Saturday afternoon matchup at Lumen Field (2:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). This marks the second meeting between the two sides this season, following a 1-0 Seattle road win on May 12 in which wingback Alex Roldan closed the match out in goal after a late injury to Stefan Frei.
Tacoma Defiance players Obed Vargas and Alex Villanueva are available for the club’s match today vs. San Jose via Short-Term Agreements. International callups and injuries to players on Seattle’s roster have made the club eligible for Extreme Hardship. As a result, the Rave Green have signed the two players from the club’s USL Championship affiliate to short-term loans, making them available today.
In MLS regular-season play, Seattle is 14-10-8 all-time against San Jose. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the May 12 win in San Jose tied a club record for the longest unbeaten streak versus a single opponent in Sounders FC history. Seattle has not lost to the Quakes in 14 matches (8-0-6), equaling the 14-match unbeaten run the Rave Green once held against Chivas USA (10-0-4). This current streak against the Quakes is also tied for fourth-longest in MLS history.
With the club’s lone strike in a 3-1 loss to SKC last weekend, Fredy Montero became the first Sounders FC player to score 50 goals in MLS regular-season play. His 63 goals across all competitions are also first in franchise history. Sounders FC forward Raúl Ruidíaz’s 11 goals this season currently rank first in MLS, while João Paulo leads the club with five assists. Defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade leads the league with 48 interceptions, spearheading a defensive effort that ranks first in MLS with seven shutouts.
Saturday’s match is being broadcast locally on JOEtv and streamed regionally on Prime Video, with Keith Costigan, Kasey Keller and current Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei on the call. Frei, who is currently recovering from injury, makes his third appearance on the broadcast after debuting earlier this month. Michelle Ludtka, Brad Evans and Marcus Hahnemann are providing pre-match, halftime and post-match TV coverage. Sports Radio 950 KJR is airing a simulcast of today’s match, with pre-match, halftime and post-match coverage from Wade Webber and Pete Fewing. El Rey 1360 AM is broadcasting the match in Spanish, featuring Zuper Mario Rodriguez, Felipe Maqueda, Carlos Tapia and Marlo Vilela on the call.
