Vancouver routs Seattle 5-1, putting Sounders' playoff bid in jeopardy
The Whitecaps completed a season sweep with their largest margin of victory, leaving Seattle holding the ninth spot in the West with one game left.
By Rahul Sato ·
The Seattle Sounders now sit on the edge of the postseason after suffering a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday. The loss was the largest margin of victory in the series and completed Vancouver's season sweep of Seattle. The Sounders began the day holding the ninth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
Vancouver finished the match with a record of 18 wins, 8 losses, and 7 draws. Seattle finished the regular season campaign with 11 wins, 12 losses, and 10 draws. The Whitecaps had already secured first place in the Western Conference following results from Saturday, entering Sunday's game with their title already locked.
Brian White led the scoring for Vancouver, netting two goals. He struck in the first minute and again in the 53rd minute. Ryan Gauld contributed a goal and two assists. Gauld scored in the ninth minute to extend the lead to 2-0. His fifth goal of the season came from an assist by defender Édier Ocampo.
Mathias Laborda added the third goal in the 43rd minute, using his head to match his career high. Ocampo recorded his second assist of the match, bringing his season total to 12, a career best. Tate Johnson provided the assist for White's second goal, marking Johnson's fifth assist of the season.
Jordan Morris pulled Seattle within four goals in the 62nd minute. He scored his second goal of the season on assists from Albert Rusnák and Hassani Dotson. Aleksa Cvetković restored the five-goal cushion in the 69th minute. Cvetković scored his second goal in his first eight MLS appearances, assisted by Cheikh Sabaly and Ranko Veselinović.
Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made four saves for Vancouver. Andrew Thomas stopped five shots for Seattle. The Sounders will host Los Angeles FC on Saturday to conclude their regular season schedule. San Jose will travel to Minnesota United on the same day to finish their campaign.
The Whitecaps previously defeated the Sounders 2-0 in Seattle on Aug. 16. Both teams recorded identical 2-2-2 records during October play.
Source: KZJO
