Ties or draws in soccer are always looked at differently by the two teams involved. Context is decisive in a tie. Last Wednesday night in British Columbia, the Vancouver Whitecaps earned a 1-1 draw while the Seattle Sounders lost the 1-1 draw.
Yes, the Sounders earned a point from the contest and set a new team record for playing ten consecutive matches without a loss, and remained in first place in the Western Conference, the Rave Green squandered a golden opportunity against their Cascadia Rivals.
The Sounders took the lead in the 19th minute when Nicolas Lodeiro converted a penalty kick, the Sounders earned after newly signed winger Victor Rodrigues was fouled in the penalty box by a Whitecaps defender.
Victory looked certain when Whitecaps midfielder Tony Tchani was given his second yellow card of the game for a tackle on Seattle’s Cristian Roldan giving the Sounders a man advantage. Certainty turned into down right doubt in the 64th minute when former Sounder player Freddy Montero scored his third goal of the season against the Sounders to equalize the game at 1-1.
Despite the numerical advantage the Sounders were unable to break down the packed Whitecaps defense and had to settle for the draw. The Sounders Cascadia tour will continue Sunday night when they host the Portland Timbers 6:30 p.m at CenturyLink Field.
Game Notes
- With 41 points (11-7-8), Sounders FC moves into pole position atop the Western Conference table, one point ahead of Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers. Eight matches remain in the 2017 campaign.
- Sounders FC currently has a 10-match unbeaten streak (6-0-4), with the club’s last regular-season loss coming on June 17. The current mark eclipses the previous club record set from May 28 – July 16, 2011.
- After Wednesday’s result, Sounders FC is second in the 2017 Cascadia Cup standings with five points (1-1-2), two points shy of Portland for first place. Seattle has two remaining Cascadia Cup fixtures this season, beginning this Sunday against the Timbers.
- Sounders FC is 7-7-5 all-time in regular-season play against Vancouver, including a 4-3-4 record at BC Place. Dating back to 1974, Seattle and Vancouver soccer clubs have met 144 times, with Seattle holding a 68-52-24 advantage.
- Midfielder Víctor Rodríguez made his Sounders FC debut, earning the start on the left wing. The 28-year-old Spaniard signed with the club on August 2.
- With his tally tonight, former Sounder Fredy Montero scored his third goal this season against the Rave Green. Previously Montero played for Seattle from 2009-2012, setting the club’s all-time MLS regular season scoring mark (47 goals). Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey is currently two goals shy of equaling that record with his current 45 goals in Rave Green.
