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Harjeet Johal ,

May 17, 2015 Twitter

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VANCOUVER, B.C - The first edition of the Cascadian Cup Interstate-5 series between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders kicked off at BC Place on Saturday afternoon before a sold out crowd of 21,000 fans. Supporters from both sides were excited and enthused for a fantastic derby match. The Sounders received a brace from Chad Barrett and claimed a shock 2-0 victory over Carl Robinson and the Whitecaps. Seattle now move one point back of Vancouver in the MLS western conference standings with 19 points, a 6-3-1 record and two matches in hand. Going into this match Sounders Manager Sigi Schmid talked to his players about making a statement against the Whitecaps. Vancouver and FC Dallas have shown to be at the top of the table this season. Schmid wanted his team and everyone else to know that Seattle isn't going away and won't be forgotten. "It’s early in the season but we wanted to let people know that we are still here. We haven’t disappeared. I know Dallas and Vancouver have been on top of the table pretty much from the beginning of the season. But we wanted to let people know the road still goes through Seattle whenever possible." The Whitecaps gaffer felt the opening goal really changed the tone and complexion of the match. Seattle clamped down and Vancouver were unable to break down the Sounders defense and nick a goal. "When you’re playing against a very good team and they are a very good team, then as you said, the first goal changes the game. We were able to play through them in the first half. In the second half, when the dynamic of the game is changed then they have the ball, they keep the ball, they've got some very good experienced players who know how to manage the game and slow it down, and they did." Chad Barrett was able to catch the Whitecaps back-four unprepared as he scored in the 5th' and 38th' minute respectively. Stefan Frei made 5 saves, but wasn't overly tested with many difficult shots as he earned his 5th clean sheet of the season. The Swiss keeper is one back of MLS leader David Ousted. Frei shared his thoughts on the key first half goals from Chad Barrett. "Clinical. Sometimes it might be tough when you’re on the bench and not seeing the field too much. I think we all believe we are one big unit. And we all have to keep working hard in training and make sure we are ready when we are called upon. He took his chances well today and we needed it."



The Opening 45

It did not take long for Seattle to draw first blood as the Sounders offense caught the Whitecaps back-line sleeping. Clint Dempsey laid a beautiful ball over the top to a streaking Chad Barrett. The 30 year-old Barrett was being kept on side by Pa-Modou Kah and he easily raced past a flat-footed Kendall Waston for a 1 v 1 chance with David Ousted. The reigning MLS 'Save of the Week' recipient was not able to stop Barrett as the Sounders striker slotted the ball around the on rushing Ousted and into the vacated net. Some sloppy defensive work cost Vancouver dearly. Barrett and Dempsey teamed up to give the visitors a 1-0 lead just 5' minutes in. Whitecaps skipper Pedro Morales earned Man of the Match honours last time out when Vancouver beat a struggling Philadelphia Union team 3-0 on May 9. The Chilean magician was just as lively vs Seattle. Morales had a great chance to respond quickly with an equalizer. He dribbled through Dylan Remick and Osvaldo Alonso and cut into the Sounders box. His shot on target forced Stefan Frei to make a leaping finger tip save and push the ball over his bar for a Caps corner in the 8'. Seattle controlled the first forty-five and gave up very few threatening scoring opportunities on keeper Stefan Frei. The visitors held the ball well and Vancouver simply wasn't able to get going on offense. Leading scorer Octavio Rivero was left alone on an island with little service. The long balls up the pitch were easily handled and cleared away by the sharp Sounders back-line. Not content heading into the break, Seattle added a second first half goal from the same man. Chad Barrett received a beauty of a pass from Marco Pappa. The ball landed next to an unmarked Barrett and the San Diego native delivered a half-volley into the far corner past David Ousted. The Whitecaps defenders fell asleep at the wheel and Barrett's brace did them in. Heading into the interval the visitors led 2-0 and held a 51% - 49% possession advantage. Not keen on seeing Mattocks, Hurtado, Koffie (other than defensive) in next couple of games. No attacking threats in younger players? #VWFC — Julian Dierkes (@JulianDierkes) May 17, 2015

@whitecaps #vwfc how many free kicks does Morales have to miss short before he stops taking these?Let him be the garbage man and control it — Mike Ward (@wardy1700) May 17, 2015

The Second Half

Octavio Rivero had a terrific attempt on Stefan Frei in the 50' minute. The Whitecaps built the ball up the pitch to Kekuta Manneh and he delivered an accurate cross from the top left corner of the Seattle box to Rivero. The Uruguayan striker jumped above Chad Marshall and sent a header towards goal. Frei was great position to come up with a timely save. Seattle right-back Tyrone Mears had a tremendous game shutting down Kekuta Manneh on the left flank. He was able to make some in match adjustments and soundly frustrated Manneh for large portions of the match. Mears talked about his strategy. "I think he liked it where he took me in and they played the ball over the top so it took me probably a few of those balls to get use to it and realize that I was better off dropping and letting him run at me. It was important that I stop the crosses, 1 v 1 defending. Good player, very fast and caused problems in the first half. I think I dealt better with him in the second half." With Seattle content to pass the ball around and play keep-a-way. Vancouver needed a spark and an injection of instant offense. In an effort to turn the tide, Carl Robinson brought on striker Darren Mattocks in a swap for Cristian Techera in the 61'. Momentarily, the Sounders had the better scoring chance after the Whitecaps first substitution. Clint Dempsey and Marco Pappa had a fast break opportunity. Dempsey played the ball over to his left. Pappa was able to fire a low shot on target as Kendall Waston moved over to limit his options. In the 64' minute Carl Robinson quickly made his second substitution of the match. A bit of a head scratcher as holding midfielder Gershon Koffie entered the match for defensive stalwart Russell Teibert.

32 year-old Manchester, England native, and former Bolton Wanderers man, Tyrone Mears was proper chuffed by the 2-0 result Seattle earned. "We needed a performance and a result and I think it was comfortable. I think they came at us for the first 20 minutes and made it difficult, but we kind of rode that wave. Performance wise, it's probably the best performance this season." Sigi Schmid made a defensive minded substitution, his first of the match, in the 70' minute. Chad Barrett received big cheer from the traveling supporters as he was removed from the match for Andy Rose. With Seattle comfortably controlling the match it was imperative that they continue to set the tone and hold down the fort in a hostile venue for the final 2o minutes of the match. The Sounders are a true top-level MLS club. The Whitecaps aren't there just yet. While Vancouver has led or been tied at the top of the MLS standing for much of the 2015 season. Seattle have shown that they are true top contenders each and every season. The visitors came into BC Place and put on a defensive clinic in front of Stefan Frei. The recipe for defeating Carl Robinson and the Vancouver Whitecaps was on full display and it was shown that it can be done by the Seattle Sounders Football Club. Man of the Match





Jordan Harvey

The American left back was one of a few lone bright spots for the Vancouver Whitecaps in a tough loss to Seattle. The Whitecaps left-back has now played 90' minutes on back to back Saturday matches at home. He also came in at the 17' minute mark on Wednesday in a mid-week Amway Canadian Cup semi-final match against FC Edmonton. With Sam Adekugbe sporting crutches and a walking boot, it appears Harvey has now regained a permanent lock at left-back. One of the more solid complete defenders in Major League Soccer showed his endurance and capability in an underwhelming loss to the Sounders.

Who was your Whitecaps Man of the Match?

Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa-Modou Kah, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Russell Teibert (Gershon Koffie 64); Cristian Techera (Darren Mattocks 61), Pedro Morales(C), Kekuta Manneh (Kianz Froese 76); Octavio Rivero. (4-2-3-1) FC Edmonton Starting XI: Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans(C), Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick; Marco Pappa, (Leonardo Gonzalez 90+1), Osvaldo Alonso, Gonzalo Pineda, Lamar Neagle (Darwin Jones 85); Clint Dempsey, Chad Barrett (Andy Rose 70). (4-4-2)