SEATTLE, WASH. - VÃctor RodrÃguez scored his first MLS goal as Sounders FC (12-8-11, 47 points) blanked Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC (14-10-6, 48 points) 3-0 Wednesday evening on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Nicolás Lodeiro and Clint Dempsey added second-half tallies as the Rave Green spoiled Vancouver forward Fredy Montero's first return to Seattle since playing for Sounders FC from 2009-2012. With the win, the Rave Green are now in a three-way tie for second place in the Western Conference with Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers, one point shy of Whitecaps FC for the top spot. Wednesday's result also vaulted Brian Schmetzer's side to the top of the 2017 Cascadia Cup standings, one point ahead of Portland with one game between the Timbers and Whitecaps remaining.
Sounders FC struck first in the 17th minute with RodrÃguez's first goal for Sounders FC. After Lodeiro found him with a pass near the top of the 18-yard-box, the Spaniard took a few touches, cut inside and sent a well-struck shot inside the bottom corner and past David Ousted. It marked the first tally for RodrÃguez since signing with Sounders FC on August 2.
Seattle tacked on two more goals in the second half, beginning with Lodeiro's fifth tally of the season in the 62nd minute. RodrÃguez played Joevin Jones up the left flank in space, and the Trinidad & Tobago international sent a low cross that found Lodeiro as a late runner for a one-touch strike into the back of the net.
Dempsey made it 3-0 in the 69th minute, playing Lodeiro up the same left flank and then getting on the end of the Uruguayan's cross in the area for his team-leading 12th goal of the season. The goal brings Dempsey to 46 in his Sounders FC career, one shy of Montero for the club's all-time scoring mark.
With two assists on the evening for Lodeiro and one for Jones, the two are now tied for the team lead with 11 on the season, two shy of the club's single-season record held by Obafemi Martins (2014) and Mauro Rosales (2011 and 2012, respectively).
Sounders FC now sits atop the 2017 Cascadia Cup standings with nine points (2-1-3), one point ahead of Portland. The Cascadia Cup will be decided on Decision Day, as Vancouver and Portland meet at Providence Park on October 22, with Seattle needing a Vancouver win or draw to clinch the Cup.
Stefan Frei made one save on the evening - a spectacular leaping effort to deny a Montero free-kick that nearly snuck into the top corner. The result marked Frei's 11th shutout of the season, a new career high that ties Kasey Keller's single-season club record. With 57 career shutouts, Frei now has sole possession of ninth place all-time in league history.
Sounders FC continues its two-match week on Sunday with a trip east to face the Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is set for 10:00 a.m. PT, with a national broadcast on ESPN, as well as local radio coverage on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Robert Sibiga
Assistants:
Peter Manikowski, Mike Kampmeinert
Fourth Official:
Baboucarr Jallow
VAR:
Allen Chapman
Attendance:
41,868
Weather:
70 degrees and mostly clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA -
Victor Rodriguez (Nicolás Lodeiro) 17'
SEA
- Nicolás Lodeiro (Joevin Jones, Victor Rodriguez) 62'
SEA
- Clint Dempsey (Nicolás Lodeiro) 69'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
VAN -
Yordy Reyna (caution) 24'
VAN
- Kendall Waston (caution) 26'
SEA
- Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 35'
VAN
- Sheanon Williams (caution) 90'+1'
VAN
- Tony Tchani (ejection) 90'+2'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres (Tony Alfaro 78'), Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones (Will Bruin 76'); Osvaldo Alonso - captain (Nouhou 45'), Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Victor Rodriguez; Clint Dempsey
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Jordy Delem, Henry Wingo, Lamar Neagle
Total shots:
20 (Dempsey, 7)
Shots on goal:
4 (Four players, 1)
Fouls:
8 (Alonso, 3)
Offside:
None
Corner-kicks:
5 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves:
1 (Frei, 1)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC - David Ousted; Jordan Harvey, Kendall Waston - captain, Sheanon Williams, Tim Parker; Christian Bolaños (Mauro Rosales 75'), Tony Tchani, Bernie Ibini (Alphonso Davies 67'), Yordy Reyna (Cristian Techera 67'), Russell Teibert; Fredy Montero
Substitutes not used: Stefan Marinovic, Andrew Jacobson, Marcel de Jong, Brek Shea
Total shots:
8 (Three players, 2)
Shots on goal:
1 (Montero, 1)
Fouls:
21 (Tchani, 5)
Offside:
None
Corner-kicks:
4 (Techera, 2)
Saves:
1 (Ousted, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- With 47 points (12-8-11), Sounders FC is tied for second place in the Western Conference, one point behind Vancouver for the top spot, with Portland and Sporting Kansas City also holding 47 points on the season. Seattle has four matches remaining in the 2017 campaign.
- Sounders FC now sits atop the 2017 Cascadia Cup standings with nine points (2-1-3), one point ahead of Portland. The Cascadia Cup will be decided on Decision Day, as Vancouver and Portland meet at Providence Park on October 22, with Seattle needing a Vancouver win or draw to clinch the Cup.
- VÃctor RodrÃguez scored his first MLS goal on Wednesday evening, registering his first tally for Sounders FC since signing on August 2.
- Clint Dempsey scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season, giving him 46 career for Sounders FC, one shy of Fredy Montero for the club's all-time scoring mark.
- With two assists on the evening for Nicolás Lodeiro and one for Joevin Jones, the two are now tied for the team lead with 11 on the season, two shy of the club's single-season record held by Obafemi Martins (2014) and Mauro Rosales (2011 and 2012).
- Stefan Frei recorded 11th shutouts on the season, a new career high that ties Kasey Keller's single-season club record. With 57 career shutouts, Frei now has sole possession of ninth place all-time in league history.
