Sporting Kansas City have a terrible record against the Sounders

The next game could not have come quickly enough for Sigi Schmid’s on form Sounders. After an outstanding win in Vancouver, even without Obafemi Martins, where many individuals performed at peak level, the side must be itching to retake the field and play on.

Seattle have won four of their last five games, and the 3-2 loss at Columbus is increasingly beginning to look like an aberration.

Slowly but surely, Sporting Kansas City are starting to find their feet in the Western Conference. They lost two of their first seven but have now pulled at least a point from their last four MLS games, including a 4-2 midweek win over NE Revolution. In fact, they have lost just once in their last nine games (at LA) with 15 goals scored to 11 conceded in those nine game.

They are now just a point behind high flying Seattle though have played a game more.

Over the long term, form favors the Sounders with seven wins and a draw in the clubs’ last eight meetings with only that Davy Arnaud inspired victory in 2009 in their first meeting giving SKC some joy. Barrett scored the winning goal in last year’s fixture in the 94th minute, if last week’s 2-goal show in Vancouver wasn’t incentive enough for Sigi Schmid to keep him in the starting XI.

Martins is likely to continue his recovery from a tibial contusion.

“[Martins] looks unlikely for this weekend,” Schmid told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s in the gym and working, but he can’t get on the field yet.”

In Vancouver, Clint Dempsey extended his streak to eight games with a goal or an assist that is every game he’s played this season. However, he also managed the feat in his last two games of 2014, and can therefore tie the league record of 11 tonight. He will share that record with Roy Lassiter (DC), Ronald Cerritos (San Jose Clash) and Mauricio Cienfuegos (LA Galaxy).

Jair Marrufo referees.