One is the franchise regarded by most in MLS as the model. Though they joined MLS in 2009, they are already the reigning champions on the field with the MLS Cup and in the stands with the highest average annual attendance.
The opponent is the up-and-coming franchise that some in MLS are pointing to as the new model. Though an expansion franchise, they are built to win now and have drawn more than 100,000 in their first two home games.
The Seattle Sounders, the MLS Cup holders, and Atlanta United, one of a host of teams that want to take that crown, will meet Friday night at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field for the first time in a game that matters. Though it’s premature to consider it a preview to what may lie ahead late in the season, much less the next few years, it is an intriguing game for a lot of reasons.
“From the get-go, they have done almost everything right,” Atlanta United winger Jacob Peterson said of Seattle. “With the fan base and everything they’ve done, it’s really an organization that others should look to. Hopefully, here we are starting something that we can build off what they did.”
Winning Friday would be a good start toward that goal. Atlanta United defeated Seattle 4-2 in the preseason, but the Sounders fielded a “B” team for much of that game while Atlanta United fielded most of its “A” team.
Friday’s starters may also be slightly mismatched because both teams feature several key players who have spent the past week playing for their national teams in World Cup qualifying games and may therefore not be picked for the 18 for their respective teams. Atlanta United knows it will be without Josef Martinez, the leading scorer in MLS, because of a quadriceps injury.
It would be a shame that both teams aren’t at full strength because both were playing well before the break. Atlanta United, featuring a starting 11 with mix of South American skill and speed with MLS experience, has won its past two games by an aggregate score of 10-1.
Seattle, featuring the savvy of Clint Dempsey, the speed of Jordan Morris, the vision of Nicolas Lodeiro and the toughness of Osvaldo Alonzo, Chad Marshall and Roman Torres, has four points in its past two games. That includes a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, which rallied with two goals to beat Atlanta United 2-1 in its inaugural game.
“They are the champion from last year,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “We know they are a strong side.”
One thing that is guaranteed: the stadium will be packed. The Sounders averaged a league-high 42,636 fans last year, which, remarkedly, reflected a four-year low. But they still drew 11,000 more fans per game than the closest team (Orlando’s 31,324).
Atlanta United has already grown used to big crowds, with more than 55,000 on hand at its first game, 35,000 at its first road game, and 45,000 at its next home game.
Even the ties between the clubs run deep: Atlanta United President Darren Eales and Seattle GM Garth Lagerwey were teammates on the USL's Hampton Roads Mariners. Eales has cited Seattle as the model that Atlanta United wanted to follow in terms of building fan support and creating success on the field.
“This organization is really trying to win, really investing not only in the players but in the facilities,” Peterson said. “It’s an organization that wants to be one of the best in MLS. This is another opportunity to show that the team we put out on the field can perform at a high level and pick up points week in and week out.”
SCOUTING SEATTLE
Coach: Brian Schmetzer, second season.
Record: 1-1-1
Previous game: defeated New York Red Bulls 3-1.
Three Players to watch:
Nicolas Lodeiro: The Uruguayan midfielder proved to be invaluable in his short stint after joining the team last summer with eight assists and four goals in just 13 games. He has one assist and one goal in three games this season.
Clint Dempsey: Because he played (and do so well) in both of the U.S. World Cup qualifying games, it seems unlikely that he will play on Friday. If he does, he's a handful. Michael Parkhurst, who was a teammate of Dempsey at New England, said Atlanta United must watch Dempsey passing out wide and then making a late run to the back post.
Chad Marshall: The veteran has three times been named the league's defender of the year. He's big, quick enough and savvy enough to frustrate the league's best forwards.
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