Everything you need to know about Union-Sounders

Things are looking pretty dire for the Seattle Sounders. Already having lost four straight regular-season games for the first time since 2013, they remain on the road to play the Philadelphia Union missing a boat load of players. The latest to join the list of the unavailable is Jackson Ragen, who picked up two yellow cards in the previous game and will be suspended.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Union

OUT: Philippe Ndinga — Hamstring

Sounders

OUT: Pedro de la Vega — Knee; Kim Kee-hee — Hamstring; Jordan Morris — Quad; Nikola Petković — Knee; Jackson Ragen — Suspended; Alex Roldan — Hip; Cristian Roldan — Quad

QUESTIONABLE: Yeimar Gómez Andrade — Hamstring; Ryan Sailor — Hamstring

Opposition players to watch

Kai Wagner – The left back was transferred to Birmingham City in January, but is now back after a half-season in the Championship. He picked up right where he left off in his Union debut, picking up an assist on Wednesday.

Milan Iloski – In a year that has gone mostly horribly for the Union, Iloski has been one of the only bright spots. His eight goals lead the team and he now has scored in four straight, bagging six goals in those games.

Stats to look smart

-4.43: Only two teams have under-performed their xG more than the Union – Minnesota United and the Sounders. At -4.43, the Union have converted just 8.47% of their shots into goals.

8 – The Sounders will have just eight healthy and available senior roster outfield players available for this game. The latest to join the inactive list is Jackson Ragen, who is suspended on yellow-card accumulation.

Tactics to impress

While the Union have changed coaches, the pressing gene is deep in their DNA. This is a team that is barely interested in connecting passes and is instead more than happy to create danger through turnovers.
While the Sounders will still draw a reasonably high line of confrontation, they are much more interested in possessing the ball and will look to pass through and around the Union.