VANCOUVER, B.C. — There had been some concern the Sounders might be undermanned heading into Saturday night’s clash at B.C. Place Stadium, given all of their international callups.
Not so, as Brian Schmetzer has deployed his A-team against the Whitecaps in a bid for a ninth consecutive Sounders win and the team’s first Cascadia Cup victory since 2015. Raul Ruidiaz is back from the Peruvian national team and starting at striker, while Uruguayan national Nicolas Lodeiro and United States Men’s National Team member Cristian Roldan are manning the midfield.
Their attacking trio is rounded out — as per usual during this 11-game unbeaten stretch — by Harry Shipp, but Victor Rodriguez is dressed for the game and could come off the bench.