CenturyLink Field plays host to a friendly encounter between
the Premier League giants and the Seattle Sounders, a team that is enjoying a
fine MLS season thus far. Are the Red Devils simply too talented to lose on
Wednesday?
Manchester United (19-time English Premier League
champions)
Anyone who knows anything about soccer is well aware of the
quality the Red Devils possess.
Sir Alex Ferguson masterminded a 19th Premier
League crown last season, giving United the most league trophies of any team in
history and they are going for title number 20 this season.
The Scot has made it a habit of touring the United States in
recent years to prepare his troops for the new seasons and obviously the
results have paid off. While broadening the appeal of United to the American
public, the squad is also facing off against some improving competition in
extreme weather conditions.
So far on the tour, the Red Devils have played once, beating
the New England Revolution (The Revolution and Union play Weds in MLS action) with ease. The final score was 4-1, with Federico
Macheda netting a brace and Michael Owen and Park Ji-Sung scoring as well.
Soccer fans in Seattle will be delighted to see some
world-class players live in action, though one rising star is unlikely to play.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been absent due to the death of a family
member and his status is not certain.
That said, new signings David de Gea, Ashley Young and Phil
Jones have all joined the team on the tour and could all play some part in the
game.
After Wednesday's friendly, Manchester United will visit the Windy City
to play the Chicago Fire and a week later they'll meet up with Spanish
powerhouse Barcelona, both games apart of the World Football Challenge.
Seattle Sounders (2011/2012 campaign: 10 wins, eight
draws, four losses)
The Sounders have been one of the biggest surprises of this
MLS season. They now stand second in the Western Conference, only one point
behind the Los Angeles Galaxy (Galaxy and Crew play on Wednesday).
A nine-game unbeaten streak has certainly helped their cause, with Seattle picking up six victories
and three ties in that span.
The Sounders' two most recent games have both been exciting
games. On July 10 they overcame the Portland Timbers 3-2 thanks to a late
penalty and then this past weekend they outlasted the Colorado Rapids in a
highly entertaining 4-3 victory at home.
Much of the team's success can be attributed to their
extremely dangerous attack which contains a number of game-changing players.
Fredy Montero has been fantastic, leading the team with six
goals as well as five assists on the season. He's scored three goals in his
last two appearances heading into Wednesday's match.
Montero is joined by Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales and
Brad Evans among others, who have all shown a capability to make things happen
offensively. Far from being one-dimensional, the Sounders have used the talent
at their disposhal exceptionally well.
America or England?
Although it's just an exhibition, this is definitely a game
I'll be watching intensively. Nothing needs to be said about how strong United
is all-around, but you cannot count out a Sounders team that is firing on all
cylinders at the moment.
Both teams will use this game as an opportunity to give some
lesser-used players a chance to shine, but that doesn't mean the competitive
nature will disappear completely.
Expect a dogfight as the Sounders aim to prove that Major
League Soccer is without question on the up and up. Will that hunger be enough
against one of the world's greatest soccer powers?
While friendlies are always tough to predict, you have to
like the defending Premier League champions to find a way to win on Wednesday. In the soccer odds you can get Seattle at 7.00 and Manchester United at 1.36 with Ladbrokes.