Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle will be home to the match of the season when the Seattle Sounders host the New York Red Bulls. Both sides sit atop their respective conferences. This is the battle of the best two sides (points wise) that the MLS has to offer.
Rumors are floating around that the best paid players on either side will not be featuring in Sunday’s Match: Clint Dempsey for Seattle and Thierry Henry for N.Y. These guys are game-changers whether it be by scoring or creating chances for their teammates. Their absence could be crucial to the game’s final result, but their teammates should have enough talent to play a very good game.
For Seattle, a winger/striker who has been scoring a lot of set-piece and open-play goals lately is none other than U.S. international Eddie Johnson. He has scored at least a couple of game-winning goals that have brought his team much-needed points.
At the other end, Australian international midfielder Tim Cahill has scored at least three game-winners this season and has been an irreplaceable member of the heart of the N.Y. starting 11. If Henry is absent, he will have to take the captain’s armband to lead this team that has one thing on its mind: winning their very first MLS championship.
The game will be played in a stadium where the fans never stop cheering or adoring their beloved Emerald City representatives, which always gives them the additional support they need to put on a show. This will be troubling for their opponents.
The last time these two sides met in Seattle, the final score ended 4-2 in the home side’s favor. Now, N.Y. will not have revenge on mind, but instead the hunger and desire to earn all three points in what is the most intimidating atmosphere in American soccer today.
