The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday behind first-half goals from Pedro Vite and Julian Gressel. Will Bruin pulled one back late for the Sounders.
Vancouver nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Stefan Frei parried away a powerful shot from LuÃs Martins from close range.
The Whitecaps found the lead in the 29th minute when Ryan Gauld marauded down the left flank and picked out Vite, whose left-footed one-timer beat Frei.
Vancouver doubled its lead eight minutes later when Gressel unleashed a venomous volley from the top of the box.
The Whitecaps thought they had a third in the 61st minute, but Frei made a brilliant recovery to swipe the ball off the goal line and keep it out.
Leonard Owusu almost made it three in the 70th minute when his shot from 25 yards out pinged off the post.
The Sounders nearly pulled one back in the 74th minute when Albert Rusnák’s header was cleared off the line by Ranko Veselinović.
Bruin halved the deficit in the 89th minute when his header to the far post beat Thomas Hasal for his third of the season.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Streak snapped
The Sounders’ 15-match unbeaten streak (10-0-5) against the Whitecaps came to an end on Saturday. Seattle had not lost to Vancouver since 2017.
Three to go
The Sounders’ season and push for their 14th consecutive postseason appearance comes down to the final three matches of the season. Their next chance to add points will be at home on Tuesday, Sept. 27, against FC Cincinnati (7:08 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).
Lodeiro suspended
Due to an 81st-minute caution, Sounders captain Nicolás Lodeiro will miss the match against FC Cincinnati due to yellow-card accumulation.
