The Seattle Sounders defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 on Nov. 2. in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals to advance to the Western Conference Championship by the same aggregate score. In this edition of Quest Diagnostics Advanced Stats, we examine how the play of Nicolás Lodeiro helped Seattle down its Cascadia rival.
Although Clint Dempsey stole the headlines with a brace, Lodeiro was everywhere all evening, having a game-high 137 touches and 105 passes, 80 of which came in the Whitecaps’ half. He earned a second assist on Dempsey’s second goal, one of his five key passes that continually broke down Vancouver’s defense.
The Sounders will need more of that from their Uruguayan playmaker as they prepare to take on the Houston Dynamo in the conference finals with a second consecutive MLS Cup berth on the line. The first leg is on Tuesday, Nov. 21 (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1, FOX Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM) at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston before the return leg at CenturyLink Field on Thursday, Nov. 30 (7:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
