SEATTLE, WASH. – A Lamar Neagle brace and a header from Nelson Valdez secured passage to the Knockout Round of the 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, as Seattle Sounders FC earned three points and the Group F crown with a 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday evening, pushing the Rave Green through to the next phase of the regional tournament for the third time in club history.
For the second time in five days, Sounders FC recorded a 3-0 victory against its Canadian rival, with the Rave Green claiming the 2015 Cascadia Cup over the past weekend at BC Place. Wednesday’s contest marked the fifth and final competition between Vancouver and Seattle in 2015, barring potential postseason matchups in the MLS Cup Playoffs. In those contests, Seattle posted a 3-1-1 record, including a 1-0-1 mark in SCCL action. Sounders FC resumes its quest to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in early 2016, with the club’s SCCL Quarterfinal opponent to be determined at a later date.
Sounders FC secured a first-half lead over Vancouver through Neagle’s first goal in the 32nd minute and Valdez’s follow-up tally seven minutes later. Neagle’s first strike was initiated by Valdez, as the Paraguayan Designated Player unlocked the Whitecaps FC defense by playing Chad Barrett into the left channel. The Sounders forward delivered service from the wing to Neagle, with the Federal Way native finishing calmly at Paolo Tornaghi’s far post.
Valdez doubled his side’s advantage in the 39th minute, as he and Barrett both rose to meet a left-footed free-kick from Marco Pappa, with the Paraguayan claiming the final glance.
Neagle added an insurance tally just after the halftime break, once again thanks to combined service from Valdez and Barrett. The latter’s through ball slotted Neagle behind Vancouver’s backline, allowing the Sounders FC winger to finish smoothly once more at the far post. Neagle’s two goals make him the fourth player in club history to record a brace in SCCL play, and he currently leads the team with three goals during this year’s tournament, ranking him tied for third in club history with four SCCL strikes.
In his first SCCL start, Valdez became the second player in club history to record a goal and two assists in a Champions League match, joining Andy Rose in Seattle’s 3-1 win vs. Caledonia AIA on August 2, 2012.
Sigi Schmid’s side heads back on the road to conclude a three-match MLS road swing at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, September 27 (2:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, El Rey 1360 AM). Sunday’s nationally televised match has significant postseason implications, as Sounders FC currently holds a one-point advantage over Sporting in the race for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Fernando Guerrero
Assistants: Marvin Torrentera, Juan Rangel
Fourth Official: Francisco Chacon
Attendance: 37,624
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 67 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Lamar Neagle (Chad Barrett, Nelson Valdez) 32’
SEA – Nelson Valdez (Marco Pappa) 39’
SEA – Lamar Neagle (Chad Barrett, Nelson Valdez) 47’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
None
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans - captain, Chad Marshall, Leo Gonzalez; Marco Pappa, Erik Friberg (Micheal Azira 64’), Cristian Roldan, Lamar Neagle; Nelson Valdez (Aaron Kovar 74’), Chad Barrett (Oniel Fisher 78’)
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Gonzalo Pineda, Obafemi Martins, Zach Scott
Total shots: 7 (Friberg/Neagle, 2
Shots on goal: 5 (Neagle, 2)
Fouls: 11 (Roldan/Friberg, 2)
Offside: 1 (Barrett, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Pappa, 2)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Paolo Tornaghi; Tim Parker, Pa-Modou Kah, Diego Rodriguez, Christian Dean; Deybi Flores, Matias Laba (Russell Teibert 64’), Kianz Froese, Nicolas Mezquida (Kekuta Manneh 55’), Sam Adekugbe (Marco Bustos 77’); Robert Earnshaw
Substitutes not used: David Ousted, Mauro Rosales, Cristian Techera, Gershon Koffie
Total shots: 6 (6 players tied at 1)
Shots on goal: 2 (Laba/Manneh, 2)
Fouls: 14 (Dean, 3)
Offside: 2 (Earnshaw, 2)
Corner-kicks: 1 (Mezquida, 1)
Saves: 2 (Tornaghi, 2)
MATCH NOTES
- With the win, Sounders FC advances to the Knockout Round from Group F in the 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. It is the third time in club history the Rave Green have moved on to the Knockout Stage.
- Wednesday’s contest marked the fifth and final competition between Vancouver and Seattle in 2015, barring potential postseason matchups in the MLS Cup Playoffs. In these competitions, Seattle posted a 3-1-1 record, including a 1-0-1 mark in SCCL action.
- Lamar Neagle scored two goals to become the fourth player in club history to record a brace in SCCL play. Neagle leads the team with three goals during this year’s tournament and ranks tied for third in club history with four SCCL goals. The Federal Way native ranks third on the team with seven goals across all competitions in 2015.
- The 3-0 result matches the largest scoring margin in a SCCL match in club history. Previously, Sounders FC held the mark with a 4-1 win against CSD Comunicaciones on August 16, 2011.
- In his first SCCL start, Nelson Valdez became the second player in club history to record a goal and two assists in a Champions League match, joining Andy Rose (3-1 win vs. Caledonia AIA on August 2, 2012).
- Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made his SCCL debut for Sounders FC, making two saves en route to his 11th shutout across all competitions.
- Tonight’s attendance of 37,624 sets a new club record in a SCCL match.
