Venezuela U20s captain Yangel Herrera returns to the XI for NYCFC’s meeting with the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Making his first appearance since the May 7 win over Atlanta United, Herrera is back after captaining his nation to the final of the U20 World Cup where he won the Bronze Ball.
Elsewhere, Maxime Chanot is back alongside Alexander Callens following his hamstring injury and RJ Allen makes his first start since the defeat to Real Salt Lake in place of Ethan White at right-back.
Birthday boy Rodney Wallace is also returning to the side after returning from international duty with Costa Rica, forming an attacking triumvirate with Tommy McNamara and David Villa, with Jack Harrison in behind.
In all, there are four changes to the team which lost to Red Bulls in the US Open Cup on Wednesday night, with Allen, Chanot, Herrera and Wallace coming in for White, Frederic Brillant, Lopez and Maxi Moralez.
Andrea Pirlo returns to the 18 on the bench where he’s joined by Sean Okoli, Miguel Camargo and Frederic Brillant.
Ronald Matarrita, Moralez and Khiry Shelton all miss out through injury.
READ: How to follow NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Allen, Chanot, Callens, Sweat, Ring, Herrera, Harrison, Wallace, McNamara, Villa (C)
NYCFC Subs: Johansen, Rawls, White, Brillant, Lopez, Camargo, Pirlo, Stertzer, Okoli
Two players to be left off bench
Key Stats
- This will be the third all-time meeting between the clubs with each team winning the away match. o NYCFC has lost just one home game this season (4W-2D). They have only lost one game at home in their last 15 regular season home games (11W-3D).
- Seattle has won just one game on the road this season (5L-2D). Seattle has conceded 17 goals on the road this season, tied for the third most in the league this season.
- Alexander Ring leads the league in tackles (59) and tackles won (42). No other player has won participated in more than 50 tackles.
- Christian Roldan has won 111 duels this season, the most in the league. Only five other players have won more than 100 duels and none of those players have more than 105.
- The Sounders are one of four MLS teams that David Villa has yet to tally a goal or assist against. He has one chance created in two appearances against Seattle, tied for his fewest against any club (Colorado and Sporting Kansas City, one appearance against both).
- Will Bruin has four goals in 12 appearances this season, matching his total from 31 appearances with Houston. Two of his goals have come as a substitute – only Montreal’s Anthony Jackson- Hamel (4) has more.
- New York City FC is conceding 1.3 goals per match this season, sixth best in MLS. Last season, they conceded 1.7 goals per game, the fourth-worst in MLS.
- 39% of Seattle’s goals this season have come via set pieces (seven of their 18), the third-highest percentage of any MLS team. They have scored four goals off corners – only New England (6) has more.
- Seattle has scored six headed goals this season, tied for the fourth-most in MLS. New York City FC has conceded five headed goals, tied for the fourth-most of any team.
