VANCOUVER: Fredy Montero scored his fifth goal in as many games as 10-men Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10W-9L-5D) battled back to earn a 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC (11W-7L-8D) on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,120 at BC Place.
Seattle’s Nicolas Lodeiro opened the scoring on a 19th-minute penalty, but Montero found an equalizer in the 64th minute – just a few minutes after Tony Tchani was sent off for a second yellow card. The former Sounders FC striker finished first time after a fantastic individual effort from substitute Alphonso Davies, who claimed his first career MLS point on the play.
It was Montero’s team-leading 11th goal of the season, and third against his former team, and it helped Vancouver earn a share of the spoils. Budweiser Man of the Match David Ousted also had a big part to play, making a season-high seven saves.
As Carl Robinson said this week, Wednesday’s contest was a “great test” for his team.
Seattle came to Vancouver as the hottest team in MLS and the co-Western Conference leaders, having won six of seven matches during a nine-match unbeaten run. And they looked the part early, controlling over 60 per cent of possession in the opening frame.
Newcomer Victor Rodriguez, who was making his first MLS start, was particularly dangerous for the Rave Green. And it was the Spaniard who drew the foul that led to Lodeiro’s 19th-minute penalty.
Rodriguez had a chance of his own in the 33rd minute, going for goal on a 30-yard free kick, but Ousted made a diving, near-post save to keep Vancouver within one.
It was Ousted’s turn again early in the second half.
The Danish keeper stopped a diving Chad Marshall header – with his head, no less – before turning away a heavy Lodeiro strike in the first 10 minutes of the second frame. Then, after Robinson brought on Davies and Bernie Ibini in a double substitution, the ‘Caps were reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute.
But that would not stop them.Just a few minutes later, Robinson’s men drew the game level thanks in large part to Davies, who closed down Marshall with a blazing run down the left, cut into the box, and fed Montero at the centre of the box. Just like that, the game was tied.
And that, despite some end to end action in the final half hour, is how it would end.
Whitecaps FC now head out east for a long trip to Orlando City SC this Saturday (4:30 p.m. PT on TSN2 and TSN 1410) before returning to BC Place for four straight home matches in the month of September (tickets available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets).
MCMILLAN ‘CAPS CORNER KICK DONATIONS
For every ‘Caps corner kick at home, McMillan donates $100 to the United Way. An additional $500 is donated for every goal scored off a corner kick. This match McMillan Corners for Kids has donated $400 for a running total of $8,800.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: David Ousted
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 22,120
Scoring Summary
19′ – SEA – Nicolas Lodeiro (penalty kick)
64′ – VAN – Fredy Montero (Alphonso Davies)
Statistics
Possession: Vancouver 34.2% – Seattle 65.8%
Shots: Vancouver 8 – Seattle 25
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 2 – Seattle 8
Saves: Vancouver 7 – Seattle 1
Fouls: Vancouver 13 – Seattle 7
Offsides: Vancouver 1 – Seattle 1
Corners: Vancouver 4 – Seattle 10
Cautions
31′ – SEA – Nouhou Tolo
31′ – VAN – Fredy Montero
32′ – VAN – Kendall Waston
45′ – SEA – Tony Alfaro
52′ – VAN – Tony Tchani
60′ – VAN – Tony Tchani
Ejection
60′ – VAN – Tony Tchani
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 25.Sheanon Williams, 4.Kendall Waston ©, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 8.Andrew Jacobson (23.Bernie Ibini 56′), 16.Tony Tchani; 7.Christian Bolaños, 29.Yordy Reyna (31.Russell Teibert 68′), 13.Cristian Techera (67.Alphonso Davies 56′); 12.Fredy Montero
Substitutes not used
24.Stefan Marinovic, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 17.Marcel de Jong, 20.Brek Shea
Seattle Sounders FC
24.Stefan Frei; 18.Kelvin Leerdam, 14.Chad Marshall, 15.Tony Alfaro (6.Osvaldo Alonso 76′), 5.Nouhou Tolo (11.Aaron Kovar 84′); 7.Cristian Roldan, 4.Gustvav Svensson; 13.Jordan Morris (2.Clint Dempsey 68′), 10.Nicolas Lodeiro, 8.Victor Rodriguez; 17.Will Bruin
Substitutes not used
1.Tyler Miller, 16.Calum Mallace, 21.Jordy Delem, 91.Oniel Fisher
