Seattle Sounders' Clint Dempsey (L) is still sidelined with a hamstring injury. (Photo : Reuters)
Free-falling Western Conference club Seattle Sounders (10-12-2, 32 points) will host an equally plummeting Eastern Conference squad Orlando City SC (7-10-7, 28 points) at the CenturyLink Field in a regular season game of the 2015 Major League Soccer season on Sunday, August 16.
The Sounders are currently on a five-game losing streak dating back to July 12. Their last win was against league-leading DC United, 1-0, during the 4th of July weekend.
Overall, they have lost six of their last seven games with their most recent defeat suffered in the hands of a reloaded LA Galaxy eleven, 1-3, at the StubHub Center last Sunday, via ESPN.
Rave Green had been plagued by injuries to their top players as of late, with designated players Clint Dempsey (hamstring) and Obafemi Martins (groin) still sidelined coming toward this match. Their starting center forward last game, Chad Barrett, pulled his hamstring after scoring a goal in the opening minutes and will also be unavailable.
Meanwhile, the Lions settled for a goalless tie with the Philadelphia Union last Saturday at home, as per Vavel. Canadian striker Cyle Larin almost headed a winner in the 52nd-minute off a wonderful free kick from defender Luke Boden, but there were no more close calls other than that.
This match is the first-ever meeting for both teams.
The prediction is a close 1-0 win for Orlando City. The Sounders are off-track lately and injuries to key players are not giving Sigi Schmid's wards their much-needed break to get out of their ongoing slump. Expect Adrian Heath's boys to take advantage of Seattle's recent depressions.
Seattle Sounders starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Frei; Remick, Scott, Marshall, Mears; Evans, Friberg; Thomas, Rose, Neagle; Valdez
Orlando City SC starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Hall, Boden, Redding, Collin, Ashe; Carrasco, Higuita; Cerén, Neal, Kaká; Larin
