Seattle Sounders FC 0Blanked by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2-0

April 21, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

SEATTLE, WA – It was a feisty affair in Seattle on Saturday, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC reclaimed First Place in the Western Conference with a comfortable 2-0 victory over their long-time rivals Sounders FC.

The match started with intensity from both sides. Yohei Takaoka was forced into an early save when a deflected cross came across him, but he managed to drop down and smother it.

Later in the half, a slick team move gave Pedro Vite a great chance to open the scoring, as Ali Ahmed cut it back across the edge of the box from the left for Vite to hit, but his shot was parried away by Stefan Frei.

Seattle would go down to 10 men in the 43rd minute after video review caught Jackson Ragen stepping on the back of Ryan Gauld’s calf.

Already looking the better side in the first half, the red card saw Whitecaps FC seize control of the match.

Alessandro Schöpf had a great opportunity to give Whitecaps FC the advantage in the 56th minute, with his shot just outside the box curled high and wide. But just a few minutes later, Gauld would be the one to open the scoring, pouncing on a pull-back by Sam Adekugbe on a late-run and firing a shot past Frei that was too powerful to stop.

The ‘Caps then doubled their lead in the 71st minute, as Brian White dispossessed Josh Atencio at the back, and calmly slotted it past the onrushing Frei to make it 2-0 on the night.

In the 75th minute, Alex Roldan was shown the second red card of the match for Seattle after a reckless studs up challenge on Ahmed.

Just a few minutes later, Damir Kreilach, coming off the bench, nearly made it three goals to the good after getting on the end of a Ryan Raposo cross, but his headed effort was clawed out of the air by a diving Frei with White unable to get to the rebound.

White was then denied once more in the 84th minute, after Sebastian Berhalter managed to cut it back for White inside the six-yard box but his shot was blocked by a diving defender.

Takaoka would get called into action one last time, saving a point-blank volley by Atencio at the death to preserve the third clean sheet of the season for the ‘Caps.

Moments later, the referee would call an end to the match, confirming a third consecutive road win.

Whitecaps FC are back in action against New York Red Bulls in New Jersey next Saturday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. PT. They will then return to to host Austin FC on Saturday, May 4 for the club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration…