Seattle Sounders FC are back - three-nil back. Their trip to Vancouver, British Columbia did not just win the Cascadia Cup, it showed that they can go to the Supporters' Shield leading team and dominate. Obafemi Martins had a goal and an assist. Andreas Ivanschitz scored. Gonzalo Pineda scored. Clint Dempsey assisted twice. Nelson Haedo Valdez assisted. Stefan Frei and his backline earned a shutout.
The Vancouver Whitecaps could not match Seattle in possession, nor in style. Sounders FC will return to Seattle with confidence and a trophy.
After dominating possession in the first half Sounders finally struck like a cobra. Obafemi Martins picked Andreas Ivanschitz out on the run. Andreas touched it into space and his left-footed shot found the open far post. That 45th minutegoal gave Sounders a 1-nil lead.
In the second half it was Stefan Frei who proclaimed his dominance. The keeper's seven saves prevented Vancouver's second half flurry from succeeding. Instead, his outfielders gained dominance.
Then, the floodgates opened.
Yes, that's Gonzalo Pineda sitting atop the ball with so many options he decides to score.
Later it was the Clint and Oba show. Dempsey, a bit angry from Waston's harsh treatment ran deep and efforted the ball to Martins. Martins calmly slotted it home.
Obafemi scored his 13th goal on the year.
Observations
- That's the best team in the league, at home, and they got crushed.
- Clinfemi can dominate any game, against any quality team in the league.
- Pineda still has a great role on this team, whether starting and scoring, or off the bench and controlling possession.
- An XI without Friberg or Valdez can dominate. What can one with them do?