Captions by Toby Dunkelberg Photo’s by Brandon Bleek and Max Aquino
The Seattle Sounders welcomed the Vancouver Whitecaps to CentruyLink Field for their second match in four days. Their last meetup ended with Seattle welcoming the Cascadia Cup back to the Emerald City for the first time since 2011. But with Group F in the CONCACAF Champions League on the line a short memory was needed for both sides as they reset for their fifth matchup of the year.
The game really came down to lineups. Sigh Schmid opted to start a largely first team side with Barrett and Roldan being the lone two deviations from the norm. Vancouver was quite the opposite with Kah and Laba being the sole regulars and Tornaghi starting in goal. It was an uphill task for Vancouver right from the begining.
Right from the get-go it was clear that Vancouver and Robinson were pulling for the draw. They opted to sit deep and rely on the counter at the expense of offensive possession. Seattle took full advantage of the tactical decision and opted to push Neagle forward, and Pappa central, resulting in what resembled a 4-3-3.
An opening 30 minutes saw Seattle slowly get over sloppy passes and crank up the pressure. Still the chances were relatively even until the 32nd minute when Valdez found Chad Barrett on the left side of the penalty box. Barrett looked up and slotted in a low cross that Neagle managed to redirect on goal to make it 1-0 Seattle.
Clearly rattled, Vancouver tried to rally but with little veteran experience on the field Seattle tallied again just seven minutes later. Pappa lofted in a set piece ball right between Valdez and Barrett. Although initially discredited it was Valdez who nodded it on past Tornaghi for Seattle’s second goal on the night.
The first half closed out with the momentum clearly on Seattle’s side of the field. Vancouver really struggled with their interplay in the final third and were unable to generate shots on target. Meanwhile Seattle looked creative all over the field with numerous flicks over defenders and into space.
Seattle picked up right where the left off and welcomed in the second half with another goal just two minutes in. Barrett found a wide open Neagle slipping in-between two Vancouver players and the Washington native fired it past Tornaghi to put the game out of reach.
Despite having forty minutes to play it was clear that Vancouver was done for the night. Manneh and Teibert came on but did little solve their issues with possessing in the Sounders half. Seattle took the opportunity to give some of their more fragile players rest as Friberg and Valdez made way for Azira and Kovar.
There were only two shots on target in the entire second half and the game came to a quiet close. Vancouver never seriously threatened and Seattle was content with their second 3-0 scoreline in four days. Vancouver simply didn’t put out a strong enough lineup and Robinson was punished for it. Sometimes it’s that simple.
With the win the Sounders move to seven points in Group F of the CONCACAF Champions League and clinch a spot in the round of eight. Vancouver meanwhile fall short in their second CCL venture but still travel south to face Olimpia SC in October. Seattle is now a team in form and Vancouver’s left looking for answers.
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