The Seattle Sounders kept themselves alive in the MLS is Back Tournament with a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night. Here are three things we learned.
Brian Schmetzer’s men knew their backs were against the wall when they faced the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night. From the opening whistle, it seemed only one team knew what was at stake, and it played out that way.
The Seattle Sounders’ opening goal came via a penalty after referee Robert Sibiga pointed to the spot signaling a handball. Nicolas Lodeiro stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way, and cooly slotted home. Jordan Morris doubled Seattle’s lead, slipping his finish under the keeper, before Raul Ruidiaz made it 3-0 from a corner, tapping in from the edge of the six-yard box.
The win gives Seattle four points in the group, while Vancouver is last and are all but eliminated. Here are three things we learned.
3. Jordan Morris delivers
Jordan Morris was far and away the best player on the pitch, setting the tempo and leading by example. Morris started the night with a shot on goal in which he stumbled over his marker, got back up and squared a pass onto a teammate whose shot was charged out. He then struck another effort that led to the penalty converted by Lodeiro.
Minutes later, he ran behind the defense and took Lodeiro’s chipped pass in stride to score and make it 2-0. The 25-year-old ran at defenders and was a constant menace on the left-wing, doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He would be subbed off after 79 great minutes of work.
Morris has famously overcome injuries in the past, but performances such as this one still make him a crucial part of the team’s success. It was win or go home for the Seattle Sounders, and Morris kept his team alive.