SEATTLE - Rookie forward Jordan Morris scored a game-winning goal in the 81st minute, propelling the Seattle Sounders to a massive 1-0 Cascadia Cup victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at CenturyLink Field on Saturday.
The victory moved the Sounders moved to 10-13-4 and 35 points on the season, vaulting them over Vancouver in the Western Conference standings and moving them within four points of Sporting Kansas City for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The goal was the 10th of the season for Morris, who became just the fifth rookie in MLS history to reach double-digit goals. He also has five game-winning goals this year, setting a new MLS rookie record.
Morris’ goal came on a diving header inside the box off a pinpoint delivery from Nicolas Lodeiro, who picked up his seventh assist in just eight games with the club. Lodeiro has now assisted on a goal or scored in each of the last seven games.
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei and the Sounders’ defense also picked up their first shutout in 10 games in the win.
The Sounders nearly broke through in just the second minute off a feed from Andreas Ivanschitz that found Lodeiro for a look on the Vancouver goal, but the Uruguyan midfielder put his shot just wide.
The Whitecaps had a golden opportunity of their own to take the lead in the 15th minute after forward Erik Hurtado shot behind the Sounders backline and found himself with a one-on-one breakaway against Frei. Hurtado chipped the ball over Frei and appeared to have a look at an open net, but the Sounders ‘keeper tracked back and made a diving attempt to swat the ball away and keep the contest scoreless.
Seattle narrowly missed another chance to grab the lead in the 24th minute after Ivanschitz whipped a bending shot that looked like it might slice past Vancouver ‘keeper David Ousted, but the Austrian’s attempt would drift wide at the last second.
Ivanschitz had yet another look at the game’s opening goal in the 62nd minute after right back Tyrone Mears lofted in a feed that found him at the far post. Ivanschitz’s ensuing shot would deflect off the post, however, before Ousted leapt in to make a diving effort to deflect the ball away.
Vancouver’s Giles Barnes then came inches from scoring a goal of his own in the 68th minute after he laced an attempt off a breakaway that zipped past Frei. But Barnes’ shot also glanced off the goalpost and the game remained scoreless.
Then came the heroics from Morris, who ran to the corner post and celebrated in front of 47,111 elated fans in the team’s penultimate full-stadium match of the season.
The Sounders now have an opportunity to make up further ground in the Western Conference playoff race when they hit the road for a clash with the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Sept. 25.
