SEATTLE, WASH. – Jordan Morris scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season as Seattle Sounders FC (10-13-5, 35 points) came away with a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9-14-7, 34 points) Saturday afternoon in front of 47,111 fans on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. With the result, Seattle now sits four points below Sporting Kansas City for the sixth and final Western Conference postseason spot with six matches remaining in the 2016 MLS regular season. The Rave Green hit the road next weekend for a nationally-televised fixture road fixture against second-place LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Sunday, September 25 (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN).
Despite 13 first-half shot attempts to Vancouver’s five and a 61-percent advantage in possession, Seattle was unable to break the deadlock until the 81st minute of play. Morris notched his 10th goal of his rookie campaign with a pivotal diving header to secure three crucial points for the Rave Green in their hunt for the postseason. Morris now has five game-winning goals, which ties him with Bradley Wright-Phillips and teammate Clint Dempsey for the MLS-lead in the 2016 campaign. With the tally, the Mercer Island native is tied for third-most among all rookies in MLS history.
On Morris’ goal, Lodeiro tied Andreas Ivanschitz for the team lead with seven assists. The Uruguayan Designated Player has recorded either a goal or an assist in seven consecutive matches.
Defender Zach Scott made his 117th MLS appearance after coming on as a late substitute in second-half stoppage-time, allowing him to pass Lamar Neagle for fifth-most in team history. The veteran defender announced earlier this week his intentions to retire after the season.
Sounders FC returns to action next Sunday afternoon with a road matchup against the LA Galaxy. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. PT with a national broadcast on ESPN. With just six games remaining in in the 2016 MLS regular season, Sounders FC sits four points below the cutoff line for a spot in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistants: Ian Anderson, Corey Rockwell
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 47,111
Weather: Showers and 63 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jordan Morris (Erik Friberg, Nico Lodeiro) 81’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
VAN – Cristian Techera (caution) 39’
SEA – Tyrone Mears (caution) 90’+1’
SEA – Nelson Valdez (caution) 90’+1’
VAN – David Edgar (caution) 90’+3’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso – captain, Cristian Roldan, Alvaro Fernandez (Nelson Valdez 62’), Nico Lodeiro, Andreas Ivanschitz (Erik Friberg 72’); Jordan Morris (Zach Scott 90’+4’)
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Herculez Gomez, Oalex Anderson, Oniel Fisher
Total shots: 18 (Lodeiro, 6)
Shots on goal: 2 (Lodeiro/Morris, 1)
Fouls: 7 (Morris, 2)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 12 (Lodeiro, 7)
Saves: 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – David Ousted; Jordan Harvey, Kendall Waston, Jordan Smith, David Edgar; Christian Bolanos, Nicolás Mezquida (Alphonso Davies 71’), Cristian Techera (Giles Barnes 62’), Matiás Laba, Pedro Morales – captain; Erik Hurtado (Blas Perez 83’)
Substitutes not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Masato Kudo, Andrew Jacobsen, Tim Parker
Total shots: 8 (Mezquida, 2)
Shots on goal: 0
Fouls: 13 (Laba, 3)
Offside: 2 (Bolanos/Hurtado, 1)
Corner-kicks: 2 (Bolanos, 2)
Saves: 1 (Ousted, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- With a record of 10-13-5, Sounders FC is now seventh in the Western Conference. With 35 points, the Rave Green are four points below the cutoff line for the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with one game in-hand. Currently Sporting Kansas City occupies the sixth and final postseason position with 39 points, with Peter Vermes’ side having played an extra match over Seattle.
- After the draw, Sounders FC is 6-6-4 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in league play, including a 3-4-1 record at home. The 1-0 result snapped a four-match skid against Vancouver at CenturyLink Field, with the last regular-season win against Whitecaps FC coming in June 2013.
- With a crowd of 47,111 in attendance on Saturday evening, Seattle improved to 17-3-4 in front of home crowds above 45,000.
- Jordan Morris scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season, which ties for third-most among all rookies in MLS history. Morris now has five game-winning goals, which matches him with Bradley Wright-Phillips and teammate Clint Dempsey for the MLS-lead in the 2016 campaign.
- On Morris’ goal, Nico Lodeiro tied Andreas Ivanschitz for the team lead with seven assists. The Uruguayan Designated Player has recorded either a goal or an assist in seven consecutive matches.
- Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has posted a 4-1-3 record since taking over managerial duties on July 26, including an unbeaten 3-0-1 mark at CenturyLink Field.
- Defender Zach Scott made 117th MLS appearance after coming on as a late substitute, which passes Lamar Neagle for fifth-most in team history. The veteran defender announced earlier this week his intentions to retire after the season.
