Sounders Crawl To Regular Season Finish Line with 1-1 Draw At Vancouver

The Sounders busted out of the gate with a  converted Fredy Montero penalty kick just eight minutes into the game. The visiting Sounders were awarded the spot-kick after  Vancouver’s Cristina  Dajome was whistled for a handball inside the penalty area during a Sounders corner kick. With a win and claim the Western Conference Title plot in the background the Sounders looked to be well on their way to earning the first-round bye that is awarded to the Conference winner.

LAPSES IN CONCETRATION

Rather than play what confidence, poise, and intent the Sounders resorted to what has been their Achilles heel all season .. a lack of composure. The Sounders never looked comfortable with the lead. The backline of  Yeimer , Xavier Arreager, and Nouhou were on different pages when it came to defending crosses, man-marking and runs into the goal box.  The Whitecaps had their own incentive for wanting to win the game. A victory over the Sounders would get them in the playoffs and claim the Cascadia Cup Trophy. The last time the Whitecaps attended the MLS post-season party was in 2017.  

DOMINANT MIDFIELD PLAY

The Whitecaps midfield of Leonard Owusu, Russell Teibert Ryan Gauld, and Cristian Gutierrez, and Javain Brown overwhelmed the Sounders midfield and backline with ball control and intricate passing and runs inside the Seattle goal box.  Gauld’s play as a false nine behind Brian White and Cristian Dajome has the Sounders chasing shadows. The constant pressure resulted in an equalizer for the home side in the 20th minute.  A cross by White deflected off Sounders defender Nouhou to the onrushing Gauld who snap-headed the ball into the back of the Sounders net.

HALF CHANCES THAT LEAD TO NOTHING

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer inserted forward Jordan Morris at halftime to bring speed and pace to the Sounder’s attack.  The issue with the Sounders attack was more in the middle of the field. It was also going to be a tough ask for Kelyn Rowe to general the middle of the pitch without  Joao Paulo, Nicolas Lodeiro, or Jimmy Medranda  All three were sidelined with injuries. Very little ball control rendered Cristian Roldan and Nocoals Benezet from playing in advantage positions meaning the two were constantly having to help out on defense.  The result was a draw that leaves many wondering can the Sounders just turn it on when the playoff starts?

INTEGRATION

While crawling to the regular-season finish line the Sounders had one of their best season in MLS history. The Rave Green finished with  60 points ( 17-8-9) placing them second in the Western Conference for the fifth straight year and earned a place in next year’s Concacaf Champions League Tournament. The 60th point in a season is number three in team history.

The  FIFA International break will give a much-needed rest to players like Lodeiro, Mendranda Ruidiaz who were all close to returning. The question is how will Schmetzer integrate those players in the lineup after missing games due to injury. The win over the Whitecaps earned the Sounders the Cascadia Cup but club expectations are much bigger than that. The Sounders will host Real Salt Lake in Round One of the MLS Playoffs. Date and time TBD.