Jordan Morris’ late goal gives Sounders 1-0 win over Vancouver
Sep 17, 2016, 3:53 PM | Updated: 4:03 pm
In the continued absence of Clint Dempsey, Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer returned Flaco Fernandez to the starting lineup against the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday. Just like against Portland, Nicolas Lodeiro took over Dempsey’s role in the middle/roaming role with Fernandez lining up in the right attacking midfield spot. The Whitecaps field a pretty strong lineup, albeit one in the midst of pretty pedestrian league form.
Toward the end of a particularly twitchy match in which both sides squandered golden opportunities, a late Jordan Morris goal earned Seattle a massive 1-0 win and three points.
Neither side came out of the blocks particularly dangerously, though the Sounders did give up some set pieces early that they were lucky to keep out of the net.
Stefan Frei made the highlight reel in the first 15 minutes with an absolutely mind-blowing save that basically involved him reaching over the head of Erik Hurtado, who was facing an empty net, and punching the ball away to safety.
Lodeiro put a few dangerous balls into the area and took a couple solid shots himself, but nothing made its way into the net. Andreas Ivanschitz had one excellent curled shot go just wide of the post, and he sent another over the bar after a great build-up by Morris.
Neither side came particularly close to scoring again in the first half, ending the first 45 with zero goals.
The Whitecaps were on the front foot after the break, getting into dangerous positions and forcing the Sounders’ defense to make key blocks and interceptions. But the home side took advantage of the holes created behind Vancouver’s offense and spurred an excellent counter attack after Morris brought down a deep clearance.
The Sounders knocked at the door a lot during that sequence, but they just couldn’t get the right final ball. Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted rescued his side with a magnificent save from a point-blank Ivanschitz shot. Seattle had a few chances when Ousted missed the timing on a save in the box and the ball bounced around, but none of the men in rave green could turn it in. Vancouver’s clearance from that sequence turned into a huge counterattack, but substitute Giles Barnes’ shot bounced off the inside of Frei’s bar and was cleared by the defense.
The end-to-end nature of this match continued as Seattle got right back into the attack after Erik Friberg’s cross found Morris. The rookie’s shot was blocked and cleared away by an anxious Whitecaps defense.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 81st minute when Lodeiro’s deep cross was met by a diving header by Morris and into the back of Ousted’s net.
Man of the match: This one is tough, but I’m going to go with Frei, who preserved the Sounders’ clean sheet multiple times.
Turning point: Morris’ goal turned what was about to be just a point for Seattle into three.
One reason to worry: The Sounders had so many chances to go ahead during this match and they squandered all but one.
One reason to relax: It’s a massive three points in Seattle’s pursuit of the playoffs. This one’s still on.
Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.
