Seattle probable starters: GK Stefan Frei; Ds Brad Evans, Roman Torres, Gustav Svensson, Nouhou Tolo; MFs Aaron Kovar, Nicolas Lodeiro, Harry Shipp, Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones; F Will Bruin.

>> United’s bad road: United returns from a two-week break aiming to end a three-game losing streak in league play and four overall (including the U.S. Open Cup). Ben Olsen’s squad sits last in the Eastern Conference and tied with expansion Minnesota for fewest overall points. After a promising start to the away schedule, United has lost five straight road matches by an 11-2 aggregate. The Sounders, 2016 MLS Cup champions, are 1-0-2 in their last three league matches. In that stretch, they also lost to San Jose in the Open Cup and tied Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in a friendly.

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>> Missing pieces: CONCACAF Gold Cup call-ups have taken a toll on both lineups, but more so on Seattle. While United lost first-choice goalkeeper Bill Hamid to U.S. national team duty, the Sounders are without top forwards Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris. Dempsey (team-high seven goals) was summoned for the knockout stage this week. Midfielder Cristian Roldan returned to the club after starting one Gold Cup group match. Seattle is also missing Jamaican defender Oniel Fisher (Gold Cup) and starting defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso (knee). Top defender Chad Marshall (foot) is questionable.

>> Flounder vs. Sounders: United has not scored against Seattle since 2011, an 0-5-1 rut with nine goals conceded. The Sounders lead the regular season series 7-2-2. Seattle is 4-1-3 at home and has conceded six goals, three coming in a draw with New England in April. United has conceded 20 goals in 10 away matches, including four against FC Dallas on July 4. Both home and away, set pieces are “killing us,” Olsen said. Opponents have scored five times off corner kicks, United none. They’ve scored eight goals on headers (though not necessarily all on set pieces), United none. United has failed to convert two of four penalty kicks.