The Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps faced off for the second time in just five days. This time around is was in CONCACAF Champions League action on Wednesday night in Seattle. Seattle was coming off a 3-0 thrashing of the Whitecaps at BC Place in Vancouver last Saturday. The win claimed the Cascadia Cup for the first time since 2011 for the Sounders.
The Sounders needed to win this match against Vancouver to advance to next year’s knockout rounds. A draw or loss by the Sounders would see their 2015-2016 CCL come to an end. The Whitecaps were looking for a win or draw at best to keep their hopes alive.
The match began with a both sides getting equal amounts of opportunities. The first real chance of the game came in the 18th minute. Chad Barrett received a cross in the box and got his head on it, but sadly it was right at Whitecaps goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi. The Whitecaps came right back down the pitch looking to get the first goal of the match. Matias Laba fired a shot from about 25 yards, but Stefan Frei was there to make the save.
The Sounders finally got on the board in the 32nd minute. After some great passing around the Whitecaps penalty box, Barrett sent in a cross to the onrushing Lamar Neagle and he calmly slotted the ball past Tornaghi to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Just seven minutes later in the 39th minute, the Sounders extended their lead to two goals to none. Marco Pappa sent in a cross and found the head of Nelson Valdez. Tornaghi mistimed his jump and essentially left Valdez with an open header. Originally the goal was credited to Barrett, but after halftime it was given to Valdez as it appeared he got the final touch
After one minute of stoppage time, the Sounders headed to the locker room with a two goal lead and looking good to advance to the knockout stages.
Just two minutes into the second half, Neagle struck again. After some more nifty passing, Barrett found a streaking Neagle who was able to power the shot past an onrushing Tornaghi to extend the lead to three goals to none.
The final 40 minutes of the match showed the Sounders controlling the tempo and possession. The Whitecaps had a few chances here and there, but nothing that would truly bother Frei in goal. After two minutes of stoppage time, the Sounders booked their spot into the knockout stages by winning Group F.
The most impressive thing about the match was that the Sounders continued to press even though they were up three goals to none. All ten field players for the Sounders constantly put the Whitecaps under pressure.
The knockout stages will begin sometime in early 2016 with time and opponent to be determined. Since the 72nd minute of their CCL match against the Whitecaps, the Sounders have outscored them 7-0. This was also the first time in five meetings this year that the home team won a match between these two teams. This will be the final meeting of the season between the Sounders and Whitecaps unless they meet in the playoffs.