6 p.m., Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
TV: ESPN. RADIO: 97.3 FM.
CLUB LEADERS: For Seattle: Goals 14, Eddie Johnson; assists 13, Mauro Rosales; shots 119, Fredy Montero; shots on goal 45, Montero; goals-against average 0.72, Michael Gspurning. For Los Angeles: G 16, Robbie Keane; A 14, Landon Donovan; S 86, Keane; SOG 43, Keane; GAA 1.38, Josh Saunders.
HEAD TO HEAD: The clubs are even, 3-3-2, in MLS regular-season play. The Sounders swept the two previous meetings this season, 2-0 on May 2 and 4-0 on Aug. 5, both in Seattle.
NOTES: Seattle will pass Real Salt Lake for No. 2 playoff seeding in the Western Conference with a win or a draw, but will finish third with a loss. … Los Angeles will finish fourth in the Western Conference regardless of result, and will host fifth-seeded Vancouver in a single play-in game Thursday. … The Sounders are 4-3-8 on the road, while the Galaxy is 9-6-1 at home. … L.A. started the season 3-8-2, but has gone 12-4-4 since. … Both teams are 2-1-2 over their past five matches. … The Galaxy’s three designated players – Keane, Donovan and David Beckham – have combined for 32 goals and 31 assists. All are expected to play. … Los Angeles is second in MLS in goals scored, but 14th in goals allowed. The Galaxy also leads the league in first-half goals and is second in assists, shots on goal and corner kicks. … Midfielder Andy Rose and defenders Leo Gonzalez and Patrick Ianni are out for Seattle. … The referee is Terry Stott.
QUOTABLE: “At this time of year, you want to go against the best. L.A. is one of the best teams in the league, and we want to use this game and learn and get a lot out of this game and take this momentum into the playoffs.” – Johnson
NEXT: Seattle and Real Salt Lake will meet in a home-and-away, aggregate-score playoff series. Dates and sites are expected to be announced after the game.
don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com
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