Nico Lodeiro will likely miss LAFC match

Historically speaking, the Seattle Sounders have often struggled without Nicolás Lodeiro. They bucked that trend in their season-opener, beating Minnesota United 4-0. It was the most goals they’ve scored in a game Lodeiro had missed since he joined the team in 2016.

It sounds like they’ll get another chance at it on Saturday when they travel to Los Angeles FC.

“He’s running around the field, but he’s probably not going to make it on the charter tomorrow,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer told the media on Thursday.

A couple days earlier, Schmetzer had sounded more optimistic and said that Lodeiro’s ability to participate fully in Friday’s training session would be the determining factor. But the left quad strain that Lodeiro suffered a couple weeks ago will apparently keep that from happening.

Jimmy Medranda is also expected to miss the match and Fredy Montero is listed as questionable with a left quad strain, but otherwise the Sounders are expected to be mostly healthy.

LAFC is also likely to be less than full strength, as Bob Bradley suggested that both Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi will likely be listed as questionable for the match, with Vela apparently less likely to play. Vela left LAFC’s season-opener after about 20 minutes, although Bradley insisted it was due to a miscommunication at the time.