Despite whatever hardships Sounders FC endured in 2015 – the U.S Open Cup flameout, a suffocating losing streak in the summer or the agonizing loss to FC Dallas in the MLS postseason – Seattle did grab hold of a key piece of silverware this year that had eluded the club for four long seasons.
With four combined wins in six games against their territorial rivals from the Pacific Northwest, the Sounders captured the Cascadia Cup for the first time since 2011 this season, snapping a two-year winning streak for the Vancouver Whitecaps and giving the Sounders their fourth-ever win in the series’ 12-year history.
The Sounders didn’t always shine this season against their Cascadia foes – they lost 4-1 in Portland on June 28 and were humbled 3-0 against Vancouver at CenturyLink Field on Aug. 1 – but the late-season surge that ultimately pushed them into the playoffs was rooted in two huge wins over their Cascadia rivals, played out in starkly different fashion.
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The first crucial result came on Aug. 30, when 64,358 fans piled into CenturyLink Field to watch the third and final match of the season between the Sounders and visiting Timbers. The Sounders built an early 2-0 lead thanks to a scrappy and determined sixth-minute goal from Obafemi Martins and a Brad Evans penalty kick shortly before the break and survived a second-half goal from Jack Jewsbury to post the 2-1 win.
Three weeks later the result was far less in doubt. The Sounders went to B.C. Place in Vancouver and steamrolled the Whitecaps 3-0, arguably the most impressive and comprehensive win of the season for Seattle, on the road and against a team in the running for the Supporters’ Shield. Austrian import Andreas Ivanschitz got his first goal with the club, Gonzalo Pineda found the back of the net after an incredible buildup through the midfield and Stefan Frei held the ‘Caps at bay for one of 10 shutouts on the season.
