Seattle Sounders FC 2’s second ever match against expansion side Fresno FC will be a meeting of two struggling clubs. The Foxes are currently on a streak of eight games with out a win and this matchup may be just what S2 need to start to break from their own struggles. Fresno are very much a middle-of-the-road team, they aren’t great offensively or defensively but they also aren’t bad at either. The Foxes are the kind of team S2 are going to have to start beating if they want to hold on to any hope of making the playoffs at the end of the year.
S2 will likely be without one of their starting CBs as Rodrigue Ele had surgery on his hand during the off week. That means it will be up Sam Rogers, who has struggled a little so far this year, and one of the young Academy CBs to corral the Foxes’ most dangerous player, forward Jemal Johnson. The Foxes don’t have a stand out creator in their midfield so if the CBs can handle Johnson it will go a long way towards S2 keeping a clean sheet. This is also the first match S2 has played since co-leading scorer Felix Chenkam signed with the first team. With Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez currently with the US U16s, the job of replacing him will fall to David Estrada. Goals from forward won’t be too big of a change as Estrada is actually the other co-leader, but S2 will need to change the way they play without Chenkam serving as the fulcrum of the attack. That process starts tonight.
Unfortunately this is one of the few S2 matches this year that overlaps with a First Team match. But S2 starts a bit after the First Team, so a good way to celebrate their win over RSL will be to switch over and watch the end of the S2 match (if you have ESPN+).
nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in altum
you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep
this is our Sound
Keys to the Game:
- DMs provide the young CBs with some support.
- Don’t let Johnson touch the ball in the box.
- Play to Estrada’s strengths.
Lineups
Here is YOUR S2 starting XI for #FRSvSEA
— Seattle Sounders 2 (@SoundersFC2) June 3, 2018
Match is at 7 p.m. PT. You can live-stream it on ESPN+ and follow along right here for regular updates! pic.twitter.com/mMCfcwYDxH
Tonight’s Starting XI vs. @SoundersFC2, presented by @elmexicanobrand! #FRSvSEA #SomosZorros pic.twitter.com/0XTip0pIXl
— Fresno FC ⚽️ (@FFCFoxes) June 3, 2018
How to Watch
Match date/time: 7:00PM PT, Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Venue: Chukchansi Park, Fresno, Tulare-Buena Vista Lakes Watershed, San Joaquin Valley, North America.
Streaming: ESPN+
How I'm watching
Outfit: 2018 Sounders Parley jersey.
Where: Near the Green River and its infamous road.