Seattle, D.C. could welcome reinforcements for MLS clash

Soccer Betting Lines

07/14/2010 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two Major League Soccer clubs that sit second-from-the-bottom in their respective conferences square off on Thursday night when D.C. United hosts Seattle Sounders FC at RFK Stadium.

Both teams have been disappointing this season, but both expect to be better the second half thanks to improved play as of late and reinforcements entering the ranks.

For Seattle (4-8-4) that will come in the form of 35-year-old Swiss striker Blaise Nkufo, who joined the club in training of Wednesday.

"I'm really happy to be back on the field and I'm ready to play the next months," Nkufo told his club's website.

Nkufo comes to the Sounders after his appearance in the 2010 World Cup with Switzerland.

"Well, it was my first training session [Wednesday] after 15 days off," he said. "I'm going to work on my own and, of course, I want to be a part of the team and playing [Thursday]."

On the club level, Nkufo last played for FC Twente in the Dutch League, scoring 114 goals over the past seven seasons.

Don't expect Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid to start Nkufo Thursday after limited training with his new club, but he could use him off the bench.

United (3-9-3) also could be unveiling two new players in Montenegrin midfielder Branko Boskovic and Argentinean forward Pablo Hernandez if their paperwork is completed in time.

That could be a big boost to the club, which is starting to find its form, having just one loss in its last six league fixtures. Also, after going the first 10 league games of the season without one, United have earned shutouts in two of their last five games.

D.C. will be without midfielder Brandon Barklage, defenders Marc Burch, Bryan Namoff, Juan Manuel Pena and Rodney Wallace and forward Luciano Emilio because of injuries.

The Sounders are just as banged up, with midfielders David Estrada and Brad Evans, forward Michael Fucito and defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado all out with injuries. Midfielders Freddie Ljungberg and Michael Seamon are questionable, and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is probable, all with knocks.

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