Cascadia Corner: Sounders take pole position in Cup race

Tactical Analysis: Timbers, Whitecaps struggle to recover from Deficit 

Barrett breaks records in Sounders FC player ratings at Vancouver

Sounders came away with their first win at BC Place courtesy of two Chad Barrett goals in the first half. In doing so they maintained a 1005 Cascadia Cup record. Here are the individual marks.

Stefan Frei 7.5: Frei made an alert touch to tip over a Morales volley early. He saved Manneh’s long range drive in 42 easily. Beyond that his defenders, especially Brad Evans, gave him full protection in the first half. There’s an extra point all round for the back 5 for keeping a clean sheet.

Dylan Remick 7: His battle with Techera could have been a source of concern but proved otherwise. That the newbie left in 60′ was a triumph for Remick. A great deal of Vancouver’s huffing and puffing was through the centre so the full backs carried less of the burden than the central defenders.

Chad Marshall 9: It took two minutes for Seattle to get a touch and when they did it was some superb defensive work by Marshall that broke up an uncharacteristically patient Caps build up. Also notable was a great block on a Manneh shot in the second half. Marshall reacted well to Koffie’s introduction with a good interception. Overall, a great improvement on last week in a superb defensive performance all round.

Brad Evans 9.5: Was this Brad Evans’ best Sounders performance as a defender? Easily. Was it his best anywhere for Sounders FC? Very very arguably. Some good early defensive work cannot be ignored where Evans’ positional sense saw him in the right place several times to foil Vancouver. He stopped Manneh at pace on 34 without conceding a free kick. This continued all the way through to the whistle, Evans is starting to make playing centre half look easy.

Tyrone Mears 7.5: Mears kept his flank quiet in a fast paced first half.. Sounders tactical arrangement of keeping the two lines of four close together meant he did not face too many Caps running at him at pace.

Osvaldo Alonso 7: A helter-skelter start largely passed him by but while his team is ahead, he had no need to go and chase anything. A good tackle in 34 left Pedro Morales the worse for wear but it was a clean tackle. He was lucky to escape a card for a hack on Techera in 40. He had a far more influential second half, seemingly always in the right place to foil the Caps with head and foot. He blasted over in 61′, which brought back memories of 2009. It is good to see him shooting from distance even though he threatens pedestrians outside the stadium more than the goalkeeper. The Cuban got better as the game went on and made one last good penalty box tackle on Rivero. A good sign for Sounders fans on an excellent night.

Gonzalo Pineda 7: Could have conceded a penalty on Techera in the first half but it would have been soft. Otherwise a quieter evening than man of his excellent colleagues.

 

Marco Pappa 8: (off in 91′) He smartly drew a free kick from Kekuta Manneh when heading up the right touchline at pace but with few options and another in 27 which saw Laba carded. Both showed great experience to draw them. His long pass over the top to Barrett for the second goal was inch perfect. He nearly hit the net with a 30 yard screamer in 76.

Lamar Neagle 6.5:  (off in 85′) In for Andy Rose, he started with some diligent defensive work down at the left corner flag. There were one or two chances to do the twisty thing at Caps defenders but by and large, Neagle figures less well when the opposition have the ball.

Clint Dempsey 7: Good early defensive header and an even better direct pass to Barrett for the goal made for an excellent start for the Texan. He did track back better than he used to but not ever night can be his night.

Chad Barrett 9.5: (off in 71′) In for the on-form Martins, he made the perfect start. In just 270 seconds, Barrett ran onto a  Dempsey through ball, stayed intelligently onside and cut the ball past Ousted with the outside of the boot. Five minutes later, he manouevered space for a shot but fired over. Was willing to come back and find the ball, once even on the left wing at the half way line. His finish in 37 was a classic forward’s strike was a lethal left foot. He also fought hard for possession and that energy allowed his over worked back some relief to recharge and re-organize. Barrett was heading for my first ever 10, but that would have to be a 90 minute showing of this kind. As t happened, what Barrett did in 70 was enough to win the game and redirect his club’s season.

Schmid now knows he has an extra option when Dempsey and Martins are burning out.

Substitutes

Andy Rose 6.5: (on in 71 ‘) He came in for the hero Barrett. A defensive change helped close the game out and he made a good interception in 85’. He and Neagle will be fighting for that 11th starting slot for most of the season.

Darwin Jones 6: (on in 85′) Jones was agonisingly made to wait two minutes for his MLS debut as the ball did not leave play. When he finally got his chance, Ousted denied him a dream start as he was set free on the right in the closing moments. His first touch wasn’t great but his finish was at least powerful and on target. It’s always nice to see a new young player and wonder where his career will take him.

Leonardo González: (on in 91′) Clock killing change. No mark.