SEATTLE — The first Cascadia clash of 2016 featured two converted penalty kicks by Vancouver’s Pedro Morales and a 2-1 Cascadia Cup victory over Seattle Sounders FC (0-3-0). With the win, the Whitecaps (1-2-0) ended a short two-match winless streak.
Andreas Ivanschitz tallied Seattle’s lone goal on a second half free kick. The Sounders’ three losses to start the season is a first for the team.
Referee Mark Geiger not only called two penalties but also issued six cautions (three to each team) in a chippy affair before 40,012 CenturyLink fans.
Morales, Vancouver’s captain, converted his first penalty in the 10th minute to give the visitors an early 1-0 edge. Geiger called a foul on Seattle defender Joevin Jones after he clipped Christian Bolanos’ foot inside the 18-yard-box. The goal was Morales’ second of the season.
The Sounders squandered an opportunity to draw even with 10 minutes left in the opening half. Octavio Rivero fouled Seattle midfielder Osvaldo Alonso five yards outside the box. Geiger decided the infraction was severe enough to give Rivero a yellow card. Clint Dempsey’s free kick sailed over the wall and wide left of the post.
Ivanschitz evened the score 1-1 seven minutes into the second half. Morales fouled Seattle forward Clint Dempsey five yards outside the box. The midfielder’s left-footed seeing-eye free kick maneuvered over the Vancouver defenders and outside of keeper David Ousted’s reach for his first tally of the year.
The Whitecaps retook the lead in the 73rd minute. A long over-the-top pass landed in from of midfielder Blas Perez with Seattle defender Chad Marshall on his heels. Marshall made a sliding tackle to bring down the Vancouver midfielder inside the penalty area. Geiger pointed to the penalty spot for the second time in the match. Morales smacked the kick past Stefan Frei for his third of the year and a 2-1 advantage for the visitors.
With 10 minutes left in regulation time, Dempsey missed a chance to level the score. He received a cross from Jones and appeared to have the right side of the net open. Dempsey’s strike missed the goal and rolled past the right post.
A disappointed and upset Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid approached the officials after the final whistle to share his feelings on the penalties.
Vancouver returns home next Saturday to play Houston Dynamo. The Sounders’ next league match is at home against Montreal Impact on April 2.
Quick facts
- Seattle forward Jordan Morris was named to the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team slated to play Colombia in a home-and-home series for a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two teams will first clash in Barranquilla, Colombia on Friday, March 25. They play the return leg in Frisco, Texas on March 29.
- Injured Seattle players out: Brad Evans (left shoulder sprain), Erik Friberg (right MCL sprain) and Roman Torres (left ACL tear).
- Vancouver players out due to injury and suspensions: Christian Dean (left foot fracture), Russell Teibert (left calf strain), Jordan Smith (red card booking through March 20) and Kianz Froese (serious foul suspension through March 20)
- Forward Blas Perez made his 100th MLS appearance in tonight’s matchup against the Sounders.
- The Sounders outshot Vancouver 19-9 and had a 60-40% possession advantage.
