Two clubs in opposite conferences of MLS will do battle today in a league match between the Montreal Impact and Portland Timbers. The first-division clash scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET will be held at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington and can be live streamed here free.
Though both clubs are amid a heated playoff chase, fielding a first-choice XI for tonight's semifinal contest remains a priority. Head coach Sigi Schmid successfully lifted the U.S. Open Cup with Seattle on three separate occasions, and his philosophy remains unchanged. He's not in this tournament to experiment. He's in it to win it.
"My approach in Seattle, or whether it was in Los Angeles or Columbus, has been: If you're in this thing, you try to win it," said Schmid, who also previously won the tournament as head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy (via US Soccer). "Some may view it as 'this isn't your first team.' I've always gone with the team I think I have the best chance to win. Any time I've put a lineup out there, it's the best I have available."
"The issue with the Open Cup, it's in midweek in between league games," he added. "So, you end up platooning."
With the Open Cup final within reach, he won't be awarded the opportunity platoon in Tukwila tonight.
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: With the suspension of Mike Magee, the Chicago Fire will forced to make a tactical shift against Seattle. Usually deployed in a two-striker system, the club will be best suited to feature with a playmaking midfielder in the hole behind Quincy Amarikwa. The role should belong to Razvan Cocis. The 31-year-old recently joined the club on a free transfer, but has previous experience shouldering that responsibility in Ukraine's first division.
Seattle Sounders' Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Frei; Yedlin, Marshall, Traore, Gonzalez; Neagle, Alonso, Pineda, Evans; Martins, Cooper
Chicago Fire's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Johnson; Segares, Larentowicz, Ianni, Palmer; Alex, Ritter, Watson, Shipp; Cocis; Amarikwa
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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