The Sounders will be doubly shorthanded when they face Sporting Kansas City Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT. In addition to missing the services of defender Brad Evans, who has joined the U.S. Men’s National Team for a pair of friendlies, Seattle will be without midfielder Ozzie Alonso, suspended by MLS for one game Tuesday for an egregious foul in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls Sunday.
Alonso kicked at Felipe Martins of the Red Bulls late (83rd minute) in the match after Martins had already knocked the ball away. Alonso was booked for a foul, but no card was given– even though Alonso’s kick came a full second after Martins got rid of the ball.
Following a review, the MLS Disciplinary Committee determined that Alonso’s attempted kick constituted “violent conduct” that “endangered the safety” of Martins.
Alonso was also fined an undisclosed amount.
After missing Seattle’s first three contests while recovering from off-season surgery, Alonso has played all but a handful of minutes in 10 matches since. Over a recent nine-day stretch, Alonso played 270 minutes.
Michael Azira is a likely candidate to replace Alonso in the starting lineup.
The Sounders (8-2-3) are in first place in the Western Conference with 26 points, three clear of the Vancouver Whitecaps (23) with a game in hand. Sporting Kansas City is fourth with 21.
The Sounders and SKC played to a 0-0 draw at CenturyLink Field May 23.
