September 7, 2012
MLS SATURDAY
A look at the upcoming game

Chivas USA (7-11-7, 28 pts) @ Seattle Sounders FC (12-6-8, 44 pts), 3:00 pm CT (KONG/KOMO2; PrimeTicket)
Seattle Sounders FC beat up on Chivas USA 6-2 when the teams last met, August 25 at the Home Depot Center, and can take the season series against the Goats with a win or draw at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon. Fredy Montero led the romp at the HDC with three goals, and both teams capitalized on defensive errors – Sounders FC with an own goal by defender Ante Jazic, and Chivas with a penalty kick converted by Juan Agudelo. Both teams are missing a defender and a midfielder because of World Cup qualifying, Adam Johansson and Mario Martinez for the Sounders, and Jazic (Canada) and Oswaldo Minda (Ecuador) for Chivas USA. Sounders FC are on a three-game unbeaten streak after last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with FC Dallas, and have only one loss in their last ten games, a streak that has lifted them into second place in the MLS West. Sunday marked Steve Zakuani’s first MLS start since his leg was broken in April 2011. He responded by setting up Mauro Rosales for Seattle’s lone goal of the match. Rosales has played a key role in Seattle’s recent run, racking up one goal and nine assists over the last eight games. Chivas will be trying to snap a five-game winless run and have surrendered 13 goals over their last three games after being spanked 4-0 by league leaders San Jose last Saturday. Three of the Earthquakes’ goals, including two by captain Ramiro Corrales, came off free kicks, rare lapses by a defense that had allowed only five set-piece goals going into the match, none of them on free kicks. One saving grace for the Goats is that they have the league’s second-best record on the road this season at 4-3-5, and played the Sounders to a 1-1 draw in Seattle earlier this season.