The Seattle Sounders drew the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 at Lumen Field on Saturday night.
Raúl Ruidíaz opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he finished a beautiful counterattacking sequence off a final ball from Brad Smith. The goal was Ruidíaz’s ninth of the season, which is second in MLS behind only the LA Galaxy’s Chicharito, who scored twice on Saturday night.
Vancouver nearly equalized with the final play of the first half, but Stefan Cleveland made a breakaway save on Déiber Caicedo.
The Whitecaps found their leveler four minutes after halftime when Cristian Dájome got a touch past Cleveland on a through ball and slotted home. They took the lead in the 56th minute when Lucas Cavallini finished a difficult cross from Dájome.
The Sounders tied the match at 2-2 in the 71st minute when second-half substitute Jimmy Medranda finished on a half-volley from the top of the 18-yard box.
The Sounders wrapped up their three-match week with seven points and two points clear at the top of the Western Conference standings with a match in hand on second-place Sporting Kansas City.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Atencio returns
Josh Atencio made his first start since the second match of the season after returning from injury and came back in an impactful way. The 19-year-old Homegrown midfielder started Ruidíaz’s goal with a strong tackle in the Sounders’ half of the field then earned a secondary assist, his first in his MLS career.
Medranda opens his account
Medranda scored his first Sounders goal and his first in MLS since 2019. The Colombian made an instant impact off Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s bench and rewarded him with a clinical strike to salvage a point at home.
Shutout streak ends
The Sounders’ shutout streak from the run of play ended at 949 minutes when Dajome found the back of the net. Seattle are tied for MLS’ best defensive record, though, having conceded just seven times in 11 matches.
