The Seattle Sounders continued their domination of the Vancouver Whitecaps this season, scoring a third-straight multi-goal victory over their northern neighbors. The Sounders now sit in the driver’s seat for the top spot in the Western Conference and at least have a theoretical chance to win the Supporters’ Shield with three games left to play.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Venue: Providence Park
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistants: Jeff Hosking, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Jon Freemon
Attendance: Closed Door
Weather: 48 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Nouhou) 54’
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (Raúl Ruidíaz, Yeimar) 60’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
VAN – Lucas Cavallini (caution) 62’
VAN – Cristian Dajome (caution) 84’
VAN – Derek Cornelius (caution) 90’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Alex Roldan 83’), Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; João Paulo (Joevin Jones 73’), Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Román Torres 83’); Raúl Ruidíaz
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Shane O’Neill, Miguel Ibarra, Jordy Delem, Shandon Hopeau
Total shots: 11 (Lodeiro/Ruidíaz, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (Lodeiro/Ruidíaz, 2)
Fouls: 6 (Svensson, 3)
Offside: 3 (Ruidíaz, 2)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Lodeiro, 3)
Saves: 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Evan Bush; Andy Rose (Fredy Montero 56’), Ranko Veselinovic, Derek Cornelius; Janio Bikel, Michael Baldisimo, Russell Teibert (Leonard Owusu 71’), Cristian Gutierrez; Tosaint Ricketts (Ali Adnan 71’), Theo Bair (Lucas Cavallini 56’), Ryan Raposo (Cristian Dajome 56’)
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Erik Godoy, Jake Nerwinski, Patrick Metcalfe
Total shots: 4 (Four players, 1)
Shots on goal: 0
Fouls: 12 (Cornelius, 3)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4 (Gutierrez, 3)
Saves: 2 (Bush, 2)
SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On the 12th consecutive year making the playoffs:
“It’s obviously a big moment for the club. I think, and I would like to even push that back to the USL days and NASL days, this club has always been a winning club. It’s something that’s within the DNA, the culture of our club. I reminded the players before the game about the great players that we’ve had at this club and what does it take to make it to the playoffs and other sports franchises and how and asking them questions so that they can reflect on the job that they do. What I would come back with is that the reason that we’ve been in the playoffs for 12 straight years. Obviously Sigi [Schmid] laid a great foundation, very grateful for that. But the reason this club has made it 12 years in a row is because the players always are committed to themselves, they’re committed to their teammates, they’re committed to the fans, and it’s that type of culture that can drive, that can be successful, that can win championships. If the players come collectively and they believe in themselves, that is the strongest version of a team. And so that’s what we have with the Sounders. That’s what we have with this particular group, I’ve noticed it even back in Orlando, in the bubble, even when things are tough. That group, they stick together. And so, I’m awfully, awfully proud of this particular version of the Sounders, and I’m awfully proud of the club for the success that we’ve had in getting in the playoffs for 12 years.”
SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER NICOLAS LODEIRO – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On his partnership with Raúl Ruidíaz:
“Indeed, Raúl [Ruidíaz] helps the team and, more than that, the team went to work today. The most important thing was to manage our patience better than in previous matches. This was a very important win, an important result, it builds our confidence and put us back on the track of wins, of winning.”
SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER XAVIER ARREAGA – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On international experience helping him in MLS:
“Very happy for our win tonight. It’s very important to bring this institution once again to the [playoffs]. I’m very happy about that. I’m definitely building my confidence. It has been important personally and, well, this is an entire process in which I grow as a player. I feel that I’m in my best moment and the point is to keep working, learning, and demonstrating on the pitch.”