SB Nation Seattle - Seattle Sounders FC Vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Another Cascadia Victory For Sounders https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2012-08-20T06:00:54-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30161842012-08-20T06:00:54-07:002012-08-20T06:00:54-07:002012 MLS Standings (Weekly Update): Seattle Sounders Closing In On Second Place In West
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<p>Saturday's important win -- aren't they all -- over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> has the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> two points out of a tie for second place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference, with <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings#" target="_blank">Real Salt Lake the team now in the Sounders' sights. </a></p>
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<p>The Sounders' win over one of their Cascadia rivals gave them 40 points and third place ahead of Vancouver and the Los Angeles Galaxy, who at 37 points are tied for fourth. That the Whitecaps are still very much in contention for a playoff spot in August has to be a surprise, but the fact that Vancouver is in the hunt and trying to catch Seattle made the victory all the more important.</p>
<p>The Sounders (11-6-7) have played two fewer matches than Vancouver, Los Angeles and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a>, another key advantage, though the Sounders will face additional matches with the CONCACAF Champions League tournament picking up steam.</p>
<p>Seattle travels to play <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA</a> this coming Saturday.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/20/3254727/seattle-sounders-major-league-soccer-2012-standingsJose Romero2012-08-18T15:17:17-07:002012-08-18T15:17:17-07:00Sounders Vs. Whitecaps Recap: Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson Score in Seattle Victory
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> bounced back from a disappointing week to notch a 2-0 victory over their Cascadia rival, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a>, Saturday afternoon. <span>Fredy Montero</span> and <span>Eddie Johnson</span>, the Sounders' formidable goal-scoring tandem, both found the back of the net in the Seattle victory.</p>
<p>Even with chances abound, the two sides played to a 0-0 tie in the first half.</p>
<p>Montero, who was used as a sub for the second straight match, was able to break the scoreless tie in the 64th minute with his eighth goal of the season. Montero also scored as a sub, an equalizing goal in stoppage time, in the Sounders' last match against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a>.</p>
<p>Johnson erased all doubt of a Seattle victory when he knocked in his 11th goal of the season off a pass from <span>Brad Evans</span> in the 87th minute.</p>
<p>The win means the Sounders remain undefeated when scoring first this season, improving to 11-0-1. It also means that Seattle is now alone in third place in the MLS Western Conference standings, three points ahead of the Whitecaps.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Sounders, head over to <a href="http://www.sounderatheart.com/" target="_blank">Sounder At Heart</a>. For the Whitecaps, get to <a href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/" target="_blank">8</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/">6 Forever.</a></i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/18/3252386/sounders-vs-whitecaps-mls-game-recap-scoreCraig Powers2012-08-18T14:51:54-07:002012-08-18T14:51:54-07:00Seattle Sounders' Andrew Duran Tears ACL
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> rookie <span>Andrew Duran</span> will be sidelined for several months after suffering a torn ACL while on loan with the Atlantic Silverbacks of the NASL, the <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2018941134_rookie_defender_andrew_duran_s.html" target="_blank">Seattle Times reported Saturday</a>. Duran had been a first-round pick by the Sounders this past season, and had been playing significant minutes for the Silverbacks, according to Sounder manager <span>Sigi Schmid</span>:</p>
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<p>"He was playing and getting 90 minutes all the time, so that was good," the coach said. "He was getting some play at outside back, which we wanted to see. ...Then with the knee injury now he's got to deal with that and the recovery."</p>
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<p>This isn't the first time that Duran will deal with the long process of rehabbing a torn ACL. While in college at Creighton he endured the same injury to the opposite knee.</p>
<p><i>For more on Duran and all things Seattle Sounders, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sounderatheart.com/" target="_blank">Sounder At Heart.</a></i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/18/3252366/seattle-sounders-andrew-duran-injury-torn-aclCraig Powers2012-08-18T14:08:56-07:002012-08-18T14:08:56-07:00Sounders Vs. Whitecaps Halftime Score: No Score At Halftime
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<p>Despite a few chances for each side, the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps are tied 0-0 at halftime of their MLS regular season mach.</p>
<p>The Sounders hold a slight 4-3 advantage on attempts on goal with two shots on goal compared to the Whitecaps zero. <span>Eddie Johnson</span> has played well for Seattle, including one shot on goal, but hasn't been able to capitalize just yet. Whitecaps goaltender <span>Joe Cannon</span> had two saves in the first have while Seattle's <span>Michael Gspurning</span> was not tested with a shot on goal.</p>
<p>The other first half stats are all virtually even. Both teams have attempted two corner kicks, while the Whitecaps have a slim 26-23 advantage in duels won. Possession is nearly even with Vancouver holding a slight lead at 50.9 percent.</p>
<p>There is plenty on the line Saturday's Cascadia Cup match as both teams entered the game tied in the MLS standings.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Sounders, visit SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sounderatheart.com/">Sounder At Heart</a>. For the Whitecaps, head to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/">86 Forever</a>.</i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/18/3252318/seattle-sounders-fc-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-score-preview-cascadia-cupMark Sandritter2012-08-18T12:59:30-07:002012-08-18T12:59:30-07:00Sounders vs. Whitecaps Starting Lineups: Barry Robson Suspended For Today's Match
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<p>The Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps take the CenturyLink pitch at 1:00 p.m. today in a rematch of a 2-2 draw in Vancouver earlier this MLS season. The Whitecaps will be without midfielder <span>Barry Robson</span>, according to Hosea Cheung of 24 Hours Vancouver:</p>
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<p>One hour until big game between Whitecaps and Sounders. No Robson for Vancouver. His suspension announced this morning.</p>
— Hosea Cheung (@hosea24hours) <a data-datetime="2012-08-18T18:59:00+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/hosea24hours/status/236900019301654528">August 18, 2012</a>
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<p>Without Robson, the starting XI for the Whitecaps will be Cannon, Lee, Mitchell, O'Brien, Rochat, Koffie, Davidson, Richards, Miller, Sanvezzo, and Mattocks.</p>
<p>The Sounders will send out Gspurning, Johannson, Parke, Hurtado, Gonzales, Evans, Alonso, Tiffert, Caskey, Rosales, and Johnson.</p>
<p>This will be the second straight match in which <span>Fredy Montero</span> starts on the bench. Montero was a late sub in the Sounders' last match, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Sounders, visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sounderatheart.com/" target="_blank">Sounder At Heart</a>. For the Whitecaps, head to <a href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/" target="_blank">86 Forever</a>.</i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/18/3252178/sounders-vs-whitecaps-starting-lineups-xiCraig Powers2012-08-18T12:37:47-07:002012-08-18T12:37:47-07:00Sounders Vs. Whitecaps: TV Time, Schedule And More
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<p>The Seattle Sounders will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Cascadia Cup battle this Saturday. The match will be televised as the Sounders look to bounce back from a disappointing week in which they lost the US Open Cup Final on penalty kicks and were defeated by a stoppage time goal playing shorthanded against the San Jose Earthquakes.</p>
<p>The Whitecaps and Sounders are currently tied with 37 points in the MLS Standings. The Sounders have a slight edge in points per match, as they have played two fewer matches. Both teams would be in the playoffs if they were to start today.</p>
<p>The two sides played to a 2-2 draw in front of 21,000 fans in Vancouver, BC back on the 19th of May.</p>
<p><b>Match Time:</b> 1:00 pm</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> King 5, This TV (Spanish language broadcast)</p>
<p><i>For more on the Sounders, visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sounderatheart.com/" target="_blank">Sounder At Heart</a>. For the WhiteCaps, head over to <a href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/" target="_blank">86 Forever</a>.</i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/18/3252155/sounders-vs-whitecaps-tv-time-scheduleCraig Powers2012-08-17T18:38:08-07:002012-08-17T18:38:08-07:00Seattle Sounders Continue "Biggest Game Of The Year" Theme Against Vancouver Whitecaps
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<p>The Sounders face their third Cascadia Cup test of six on the season, with much more than regional pride on the line; with Seattle locked in a three-way tie in terms of points for the all-important third spot in the Western Conference standings, the result of this game could have a major impact on playoff positioning.</p> <p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8707633195444942">Right on the heels of one of the most difficult weeks in franchise history, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> will play host to a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> team that's proven difficult to predict. At times this season, <span>Martin Rennie's</span> side has looked to be on the verge of breaking through and joining the league's elite. At others, they've done things like lose 2-0 at home to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a>. There's little doubt that the club is headed in a positive direction; after finishing dead-last in the Western Conference (as well as the imaginary single table) in 2011, the Whitecaps started the season strong and have only improved from there. While the offseason narrative surrounding last season's expansion teams tended to focus on Portland taking a big step forward and Vancouver committing to something of a tear-down and rebuild after just one year, it's turned out to be almost the polar opposite.<br><br>The inclusion of the word "almost" is key; the team was incredibly active on the trade market during pre-season, and despite an impressive record and what would appear to be a pretty firm grip on a playoff spot, the clear-out didn't end once the games began. After trading (or otherwise losing) <span>Jeb Brovsky</span>, <span>Shea Salinas</span>, <span>Jay Nolly</span> and <span>Lee Nguyen</span> before the beginning of the year, the Whitecaps have since parted ways with three of their biggest names in Davide Chiumento, <span>Sebastien Le Toux</span> and <span>Eric Hassli</span>. Rennie is proving that it's possible to revamp a team while simultaneously performing not only well but significantly better than anyone would have reasonably expected.</span></p>
<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8707633195444942">Vancouver has managed to play above expectations thanks to balance throughout the squad rather than leaning heavily on a few big names. 22-year-old striker <span>Darren Mattocks</span> has been the team's breakout star, the second overall pick in the 2012 MLS Super Draft cracking the starting lineup for the first time in the Whitecaps 2-2 draw with the Sounders on May 19th, and he's been a regular fixture ever since. His mark of 7 goals in 14 games is a team best, and his performance this season led to his first appearance with the Jamaican national team on August 15th. With the addition of fellow Jamaican international <span>Dane Richards</span>, acquired from New York as part of the deal that sent Le Toux to the Red Bulls, the Whitecaps have speed to burn up top; creative winger (and legitimate threat at goal in his own right) <span>Camilo Sanvezzo</span> on the left gives balance to Vancouver's attacking three and makes it quite an imposing force. <br><br>But if there's one thing that really sets the Whitecaps apart from the rest of MLS, it's the strength of their fullback play. In a league whose most glaring weakness is in the lack of quality at the outside back position, <span>Alain Rochat</span> and Lee Young-Pyo have given other clubs something to consider when it comes time to go about making upgrades. Rochat and Lee give the Whitecaps another level of depth in their attack, one that's been consistently difficult for opposing teams to counter, and given the defensive shortcomings of <span>Mauro Rosales</span> and <span>Alex Caskey</span> it's an area of Saturday's game worth keeping in mind.<br><br>Luckily for Seattle, the center of Vancouver's defense is not in nearly as good a shape as the flanks; captain Jay Demerit is listed as doubtful on the injury report due to a concussion, while Martín Bonjour will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation. That means the likely starters will be <span>Jordan Harvey</span> and newcomer <span>Andy O'Brien</span>, and though that's not by any means a bad pairing it's a significant downgrade from the Whitecaps preferred tandem. As an additional benefit for Seattle, the diminished quality in the middle could force Rochat and Lee to be less adventurous going forward. That could have a fairly significant ripple effect on the quality of Vancouver's attack.<br><br>With the regular season entering the homestretch, the Sounders don't have the luxury of dwelling on last week's disappointments. Seattle may be even on points with the Whitecaps, but they have two games in hand and an advantage in both tiebreakers. But a loss in this game would take away a lot of that edge, and with the Sounders also losing one of their games in hand over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> this weekend it would make an already murky playoff picture begin to look as clear as mud. After working hard to dig their way out of a slump that nearly derailed their season, Seattle can't afford to let a few difficult losses erase all of that progress. Rivalry games are always difficult and this one in particular will be a challenge, but if the Sounders want this season to be a step forward they'd do well to find a way to pick up three points.</span></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/8/17/3250812/seattle-sounders-vancouver-whitecaps-cascadia-cup-match-previewAaron Campeau