Sounders keep playoff hopes afloat with win over Vancouver

The second matchup of the 2016 season between the Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps was met a a stormy Pacific Northwest day in Seattle. With both sides desperate for points in order to remain in the playoff picture it was a hard fought, and sometimes overly physical battle right from the get-go. An inspired tifo from the Emerald City Supporters energized the 47,111 fans in attendance as the match got underway.

In just the second minute of the match Nico Lodeiro found himself on the end of a beautiful ball form Ivanschitz. The Uraguayan’s first time volley went uncharacteristically wide, but set the tone for the early part of the match. With lots of missed chances for either side.

Vancouver responded in turn with their counter attacking style of football and the Sounder were forced to rely on several last ditch slide tackles and saves to keep it level. Erik Hurtado, continuing his late resurgence, proved a particular prickly thorn in Seattle’s side early on when he found himself free on the break with only Frei to beat. He opted to chip Frei but he took too heavy of a touch and had to wait for the ball to settle. Frei, not one to be beat twice in quick succession sprinted after the ball to swat it away, preserving the scoreline.

Although Vancovuer found themselves in a couple dangerous situations it was Seattle who saw most of the ball in the first half as they effectively passed the ball around the ‘Caps area looking for weaknesses to exploit. Andreas Ivanschitz was often the one to spark a chance including one in the 22nd minute that curled left then right before skirting just wide.

Both of these Cascadia rivals have struggled to score and each of their recent runs of good form can be largely attributed to stellar defending. This game was an excellent exhibition of that. There was stellar goalkeeping throughout, with hardly a minute going by without a promising counter attack being foiled by great positioning from the central defenders. As such it was hardly a surprise when the game entered halftime level at 0-0.

The Sounders came out after the break with a renewed focus. Linking passes they missed against San Jose. They started to simply dominate possession as Vancouver retreated farther and farther into their own half. Content to rely on the counter. The Sounders nearly broke through int he 61st minute when Lodeiro found himself standing six feet from keeper David Ousted at the touchline but the made a remarkable save to keep the ‘Caps in it.

Substitutes started to enter the field in the 60th minutes when Nelson Valdez came on for Seattle and Giles Barnes on for Vancovuer.  Barnes was inches away from making an immediate impact in the 69th minutes when he found himself one on one with Frei. Although Barnes beat Frei his shot clattered off the post right to a Seattle defender.

Ultimatly it was Jordan Morris who earned the title of hero on the night for his 81st minute goal. The Whitecaps committed the cardinal sin against Seattle of leaving Nicolas Lodeiro with time and space with runners in the box and Sounders newest DP curved in a beautiful ball the Morris headed right over the shoulder of Ousted.

The goal marked Morris’ 10th tally of the season his 5th game winning goal, a new MLS rookie record. With the assist on the night Lodeiro now has seven straight games with either a goal or an assist.

The Whitecaps pushed numbers forward in an effort to get the late equalizer but it was ultimately all naught as the scoreline remained unchanged when the game ended ten minutes later.

With the loss Vancovuer is all but eliminated from the playoffs though not technically out they’d need some favorable results to continue playing into late October. With the three points on the night the Sounders move up to seventh in the Western Conference and still control their own playoff destiny. Their road matchup against the LA Galaxy looms large as they’re relying on their games in hand to keep them in contention with Portland and Sporting KC for the last two playoff spots in the Western Conference.