It looked as if the Seattle Sounders had regained their rhythm, mojo, and swagger from their 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers . For the first 15 minutes in Saturday’s game with the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Sounders were the dominant team. Before Jordan Morris scored his second goal of the season in the 8th minute the Rave Green had three shots on goal. The chances and Morris’s goal were a result of players moving without the ball and creating space for teammates to run into and timely passes by the players with the ball. All that was lacking in the first 15 minutes was another goal for the Sounders to double their lead. A second goal would have surely put the Whitecaps on there heels and chasing the game.
LACK OF CONVICTION
The inability to find that second goal came back to haunt the Sounders in stoppage time when Nouhou was called for a handball inside the Sounders goal box and a penalty was awarded to the Whitecaps after a VAR review. Ryan Glad converted the spot kick and the Sounders were left to rue their lack of conviction after the 15th minute.
“I felt like it was a decent performance. I think that we needed to do a better job of closing out the game with the ball, be a little more dangerous when we are up 1-0 instead of conceding possession and conceding crosses , “Cristian Roldan said after the game. “ That’s what at the end of the day resulted in the [penalty], a silly foul. We are trying to make up for it. It’s unfortunate but it’s the reality. It’s a 1-1 game, we split the points, and we don’t move in the standings and so it definitely feels like a loss.”
ONGOING ISSUES
An inability to play with a lead has been a major issue for the Rave Green. When leading the Sounders for some unknown reason stop making off-ball runs to create space. The midfield block and the backline movements become counter to each other rather than complementary. Players are ball-watching on offense waiting for someone else to make a play. There are too many turnovers and no one is willing to close down the opponent in transition.
BIG PICTURE
The game did have a few bright spots. The return of Pedro de la Vega, Jordan Morris scoring his second goal of the season, and another good performance by Obed Vargas who seems to get better and better with every game. The team will now look to Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup round 16 match against USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC to get back on the winning side.
CREDIT CHARIS WILSON FOR PHOTO GALLERY IMAGES
GAME NOTES:
- The result keeps Sounders FC in 10th place Western Conference with 14 points (3-6-5). Vancouver sits in seventh place in the Western Conference with 19 points (5-4-4).
- Saturday marked the 153rd all-time meeting between the Sounders and Whitecaps FC dating back to 1974 in the North American Soccer League. Seattle leads the all-time series 73-53-27.
- Since the Vancouver entered MLS in 2011, Seattle leads the regular-season series 17-10-10.
- Seattle stays in second place in the Cascadia Cup standings with four points (1-1-1). Vancouver leads the regional trophy competition with seven points (2-0-1). Portland is in third place with zero points (0-2-0).
- Jordan Morris scored his second goal of the season on Saturday, good for his 68th in all competitions since joining the club in 2016, third in club history.
- Sounders FC midfielder Pedro de la Vega subbed into the match in the 76th minute, making his first appearance since March 2. De la Vega, who Seattle signed this offseason as a Young Designated Player, made his return from a multiple week layoff due to a hamstring injury.
- Seattle defender Nouhou will miss Sounders FC’s match at St. Louis CITY SC next Saturday after he was issued a red card in the 90+4’.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1
Wednesday, May 18, 2024
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistants: Justin Howard, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Attendance: 30,102
Weather: 51 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jordan Morris 9’
VAN – Ryan Gauld (penalty) 90’+5’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Obed Vargas (caution) 36’
SEA – João Paulo (caution) 43’
VAN – Mathias Laborda (caution) 77’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 89’
SEA – Nouhou (ejection) 90’+4’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, João Paulo (Pedro de la Vega 76’), Obed Vargas, Albert Rusnák (Reed Baker-Whiting 88’), Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz (Danny Musovski 88’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Cody Baker, Jonathan Bell, Danny Leyva, Paul Rothrock, Dylan Teves
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 14
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 5
Saves: 4
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Yohei Takaoka; Mathias Laborda, Tristan Blackmon, Javain Brown; Ryan Raposo (Ali Ahmed 65’), Alessandro Schopf (Levonte Johnson 76’), Andres Cubas (Sebastian Berhalter 54’), Pedro Vite; Fafa Picault, Brian White, Ryan Gauld
Substitutes not used: Isaac Boehmer, Ranko Veselinovic, Belal Halbouni, Ralph Priso, Luis Martins, Giuseppe Bovalina
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves:
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