Keeping up with the Sounders during the international break
Aug 30, 2016, 10:23 AM | Updated: 10:43 am
(AP)
In ways both fortunate and unfortunate for the Sounders, they head into the international “break” (nearly every other league in the world doesn’t play games during this time) with a bye weekend.
The unfortunate side is that they don’t get a chance to get right back to work and put Sunday’s loss in Portland behind them. But this is probably for the best because many of the Sounders’ best players are going off on national-team duty for the next 10 days or so. It also gives the club more time to assess the situation with Clint Dempsey, who didn’t play Sunday while being evaluated for an irregular heartbeat. The Sounders hope to have a better handle on the situation before their next match, Sept. 10 on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.
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So while fans won’t have a Sounders game to watch this weekend, there is a whole slate of international matches featuring Sounders players to keep everyone entertained for the time being. We’ll be previewing and recapping these matches as well. If you miss any, watch this space to get caught up.
Here’s the list of Sounders players going on duty for their countries this week (all times Pacific):
Jordan Morris, USA (9 caps, 1 goal)
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at St. Vincent & The Grenadines: Friday, Sept. 2, 12:30 p.m.
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m.
• Wins in both matches would ensure the USA a spot in the “hexagonal” (Hex) next round of qualifying.
Román Torres, Panama (Captain, 95 caps, 8 goals)
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier vs. Jamaica: Friday, Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at Costa Rica: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m.
• Panama currently in second place in their group, could advance to the Hex with win in both matches.
Nicolás Lodeiro, Uruguay (42 caps, 3 goals)
• CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier at Argentina: Thursday, Sept. 1, 4:30 p.m.
• CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier vs. Paraguay: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m.
• Uruguay currently leads CONMEBOL qualifying, but it’s still fairly early in that stage.
Joevin Jones, Trinidad & Tobago (53 caps, 4 goals)
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier vs. Guatemala: Friday, Sept. 2, 4 p.m.
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at USA: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m.
• Would secure a spot in the Hex with a win or draw vs. Guatemala.
Oalex Anderson (22 caps, 10 goals) and Myron Samuel (50 caps, 19 goals), St. Vincent & The Grenadines
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier vs. USA: Friday, Sept. 2, 12:30 p.m.
• CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at Guatemala: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 4:15 p.m.
• After going winless thus far in their group, “Vincy Heat” is eliminated from 2018 World Cup contention going into this round of internationals.