Seattle (6-8-4, 22pts) are trying to build off of a 2 game league winning streak after the Rave Green recorded victories on the road at DC and last week against Colorado at Qwest. Across all matches, the Sounders are 5-1-1 in their last 7 matches, including Wednesday’s win over Metapan in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Blaise Nkufo is expected to make his first road start for the Sounders and newest Designated Player, Alvaro Fernandez, has received his International Transfer Certificate and is eligible to play for the club. The two new additions to the Sounders will only help Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani.

Montero has recorded an assist or goal in the last 7 MLS matches, over that period he has reached the back of the net 3 times and assisted on 5 other goals. Zakuani leads the squad with 7 goals on the year, including 2 in last week’s win over the Rapids.

The Earthquakes haven’t lost in four games, last playing to a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy thanks to a 90th minute Landon Donovan equalizer. The two clubs met on May 22nd- a match won by San Jose 1-0 due to a Chris Wondoloski goal in the 11th minute.

This is the 5th MLS meeting between the old NASL rivals. Each club has won twice.

Kickoff is slated for 7p from San Jose. Arlo White will be calling the action on KING.

He is now eligible to play on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Official Release

Freddie Ljungberg, an MLS Best XI selection and two-time All-Star midfielder for the Seattle Sounders FC, has been traded to the Chicago Fire today in exchange for a conditional selection in the 2011 or 2012 SuperDraft.

Ljungberg, 33, led Seattle and finished fourth in MLS with nine assists in 2009. He was named the MLS October Player of the Month after assisting on the team’s final four goals of the regular season, helping the Sounders FC reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in the club’s inaugural season. Ljungberg was also a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year.

“Freddie is a tremendous individual and an exceptional player who contributed greatly to the huge success of Sounders FC, both on and off the field, in the past year and a half,” said Adrian Hanauer, general manager. “Freddie, along with Kasey Keller, gave this club immediate stature in the world’s game, and we are grateful for his service. We wish him all the best in Chicago.”

Said Ljungberg: “I want to start off by saying how proud I am to have been part of the most successful new franchise in MLS history, the Seattle Sounders FC. I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I first came to Seattle but I have to say that how the city and the fans have embraced me has gone beyond my wildest dreams and for that I am forever grateful. I also want to thank my teammates who are absolutely great on and off the pitch. I have made some very close friends who I know I will be in contact with forever.”

In a related move, Sounders FC has added midfielder Alvaro Fernandez, 24, to the active roster. Fernandez, a member of the Uruguay National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was acquired on Thursday and has received his International Transfer Certificate. He is now eligible to play on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Ljungberg was signed as Seattle’s first Designated Player on October 28, 2008. He came to Sounders FC after 10 seasons in the English Premier League. In his nine years with Arsenal he was a member of teams that won two EPL titles, three FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League final appearance.

This season the former Swedish international played in each of the first 15 Sounders FC matches (starting 14) and contributed three assists. Altogether over the two seasons he played in 37 matches (starting 35), scoring two goals and adding 12 assists.

In 2009 Sounders FC became the first expansion team since 1998 to qualify for the playoffs and finished with the league’s fourth-best point total. Seattle also won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship and broke the MLS season record for attendance.

Unbeaten in its last three MLS matches and over five games in all competitions, Sounders FC plays the Earthquakes in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium. First kick is 7 p.m. PT.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Traded MF Freddie Ljungberg to Chicago Fire in exchange for conditional selection in 2011 or 2012 SuperDraft.

No more details are available.

Chris Coulter was able to provide us some shots of MLS’s newest Designated Player, Alvaro Fernandez from today’s training session. Enjoy!

[Show as slideshow]

The rumors have been around for a week and were confirmed today via a release from the club.

The 24-year old Fernandez was under contract with Nacional in Uruguay and has 8 caps for the Uruguayan National Team. When asked to describe himself, he said, “I’m fast, I’m agile and I’m versatile.”

During the World Cup, Fernandez appeared in 4 of Uruguay’s matches where he recorded a shot and committed two fouls (while suffering 3).

He will wear #15 for Sounders FC.

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Uruguayan Midfielder Alvaro Fernandez Signs with Sounders FC
Played in Four 2010 World Cup Matches for Semifinalists

RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC have acquired Uruguay National Team midfielder Alvaro Fernandez, it was announced today. Fernandez, 24 played in four matches for semifinalist Uruguay during the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Fernandez qualifies as the club’s third Designated Player. His signing will be finalized upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Fernandez has not yet been added to the active roster. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Fernandez started for Uruguay in the quarterfinal against Ghana and was a substitute in wins over South Africa, Mexico and South Korea. La Celeste took fourth in South Africa, its best finish since 1970. He has been capped 11 times by Uruguay-including appearances in six qualifiers-since his debut in 2008.

“I’m very excited to be playing in the U.S. because the football has grown a lot in the last few years and keeps getting better,” said Fernandez. “Seattle is beautiful and I think it’s the ideal place to be with my family. All these things helped in making my decision.”

“Alvaro is a versatile player who can play in a number of midfield positions,” said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC head coach. “He brings good energy to the game as well as World Cup experience. He can score and also set-up others.”

Fernandez played the 2010 season for Chile’s Universidad. Universidad, located in Santiago, finished second in the Primera Division and is currently in the semifinal stage of the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship.

Said Fernandez: “My goals are always the same whenever I join a team: try to help, on and off the field; help the club achieve its goals; and, obviously, win championships. I believe I can contribute through my experience. I describe myself as a fast, smooth player, who can play on either flank. I am strong in the air, and I work very hard.”

“Alvaro is experienced internationally and he has demonstrated a tremendous work rate and great tactical awareness,” said Chris Henderson Sounders FC technical director. “He likes to connect passes, possesses good pace and moves well off the ball.”

Fernandez earned his first selection by the Uruguay National Team while playing for Nacional. In addition to national team play, Fernandez has top-flight experience in Uruguay, Mexico, Portugal and Chile. In 2009 Nacional won the Uruguayan Primeria Division and reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Signed MF Alvaro Fernandez

Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight:  159
Birthdate: 10/11/1985
Birthplace: Soriano, Uruguay
Citizenship: Uruguay
Uniform Number:15
Pronunciation: AHL-bah-ro

Last Club: Universidad de Chile (Chile; on loan from Nacional) 2010
Previous Clubs (chronological): Atenas (2006), Montevideo Wanderers (2007-08), Puebla (Mexico, 2008), Nacional (Uruguay, 2008-09), Vitoria Setubal (Portugal, 2009-10)

Alvaro Fernandez Career Statistics
Season                                                                            GP/GS (Goals)
2007     Clausura     Montivideo Wanderers                      13/12 (2)
2007     Apertura      Montivideo Wanderers                     15/13 (0)
2008     Clausura     Montivideo Wanderers                     15/15 (1)
2008     Apertura      Puebla (Mexico)                               12/12 (0)
2008     Apertura      Nacional                                             1/1 (0)
2009     Clausura     Nacional                                             9/8 (3)
2009                         Vitoria Setubal (Portugal)                 9/6 (0)
2010                         Universidad (Chile)                          11/9 (1)
Totals                                                                                  85/76 (8)

After playing through a scoreless 60 minutes, Fredy Montero came on as a 60th minute substitute for Nate Jaqua, and seconds later gave Sounders FC a goal that would be the game-winner.

Montero’s goal against the El Salvador club was a 40-yd blast that was mishandled by the Metapan goalkeeper Misael Alfaro in front of 17,228 at Qwest Field.

The two clubs will play the Metapan leg next Tuesday, August 3rd at Estadio Jorge Calero Suarez in San Salvador. The winner of this series will advance to the Group Stage of CCL and be placed Monterrey, Saprissa and the winner of the Tauro vs. Marathon Play-in.

Scoring Summary

SEA — Fredy Montero (Osvaldo Alonso) 60

Seattle Sounders — Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas (Osvaldo Alonso 14), Mike Seamon, Miguel Montano (Steve Zakuani 57), Nate Jaqua (Fredy Montero 60), Roger Levesque.

Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, David Estrada, Terry Boss.

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Osvaldo Alonso 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Fredy Montero 2); FOULS: 17 (Leo Gonzalez 3, Roger Levesque 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Roger Levesque 1); CORNER KICKS: 8 (Osvaldo Alonso 4); SAVES: 1 (Kasey Keller 1)

Misconduct Summary:
SEA — Peter Vagenas (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 8
SEA — James Riley (caution; Reckless Foul) 17
SEA — Osvaldo Alonso (caution; Reckless Tackle) 19
ISM — Rodolfo Suarez (caution; Reckless Foul) 36
ISM — Erick Prado (caution; Reckless Tackle) 42
ISM — Emerson Umana (caution; Reckless Tackle) 64
SEA — Sanna Nyassi (caution; Reckless Foul) 67

Referee: Ricardo Arellano
Referee’s Assistants: -Alejandro Ayala; Victor Calderon
4th Official: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 17,228
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Sunny-and-75-degrees

From the Club… Metapán won the 2010 Clausura for its fourth title in the last seven seasons (there are two seasons per year in El Salvador’s Primera División). That season concluded with the final on May 23. All of the championships have come under coach Edwin Portillo, who also played 10 years for Los Caleros.

The 2010 Apertura begins August 8 at Alianza.

Metapán was 5-2-8 in league play and then advanced over Firpo (4-3 on aggregate) and Aguila in the playoffs. Mark Blanco scored two first-half goals in the final with Aguila. Elias Montes scored the deciding goal in the 81st minute of the second leg semi at Firpo. Metapán was 3-0-5 at home and drew 2-2 with Firpo in the semifinal first leg at home, the 8,000-seat Estadio Jorge Calero Suarez.

The August 3 match with Sounders FC will be played at the Estadio Cuscatlán, the 44,000-capacity national stadium in the capital city of San Salvador. It is also the home pitch for Alianza. Metapán is located in the northwest corner of El Salvador, approximately 50 miles travel from San Salvador by road. Metapán’s home stadium, Estadio Suarez, was not approved as a suitable site by CONCACAF, prompting the move.

In short, it’s the club championship for teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The winner of the 8-month long event will find itself in the FIFA Club World Championship.

The Tournament begins with 24 Clubs who have earned their way in by their performance in their domestic league. The United States sends four clubs; the MLS Supporter Shield winner (Columbus), the MLS Cup Winner (Real Salt Lake), the MLS Cup Loser (LA Galaxy), and the US Open Cup Winner (Seattle).

16 of those clubs will play in a Home & Away Preliminary Round; this is where the Sounders currently are. The remaining 8 clubs head directly to the Group Stage.

The Group Stage consists of 4 Groups of 4 teams. Each team is guaranteed 6 matches in this stage playing the other 3 clubs once at home and once on the road. The Group play begins in August and will continue through October.

The top two in each group (8 teams) advance to the Championship Round where each pairing will play a Home & Away set with the Away Goals Rule.

The first legs of the Quarterfinals will be played February 22–24, 2011, while the second legs will be played March 1–3.

The first legs of the Semifinals will be played March 15–17, while the second legs will be played April 5–7.

The first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final will be played April 19–21st while the second legs will be played April 26–28th.

So, who’s headed to Qwest on Wednesday? Remember, you can buy tickets via the phone or online via Ticketmaster.