The Seattle Sounders have another two-match week starting Wednesday, with a group-stage match against CONCACAF Champions League opponents C.D. Olimpia in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa (7 p.m. PT, FOX Soccer Plus, KIRO-FM 97.3 radio). The Sounders will need to conserve their energy and manpower, however, ahead of their Cascadia clash against Portland Sunday.
Seattle prevailed in a hotly contested first match against Olimpia Aug. 19. A brawl developed after a late, game-winning Seattle penalty kick. Coach Sigi Schmid predicted the tense atmosphere would carry over to the second meeting of the two clubs.
Schmid admitted that a defensive approach was in store for his side as they sought a result on the road.
“They’re going to be very aggressive,” Schmid said Monday. “We have to defend with good quality and look for our chances to counter.”
Preserving his first team ahead of the league match with the Portland Timbers will play a major role.
“The important game for us is the Portland game on Sunday, our focus is on that,” he said while attempting to make clear he wanted his squad to perform well.
“Any time we send out a team we want to do well and get a result,” said Schmid.
Seattle leads Group F with four points in the Champions League, following its win against Olimpia and a 1-1 draw at Vancouver earlier in August. Since the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stages, a draw or win Wednesday would ensure the Sounders’ position in the round of 16.
Still, with only eight regular-season matches remaining until the playoff picture is finalized and the Sounders on the edge of the Western Conference bubble, don’t expect a star-studded lineup for the 18-man roster Wednesday.
