Sounders extend season-opening unbeaten streak to 11, tie Vancouver 2-2
Jun 26, 2021, 8:54 PM | Updated: Sep 13, 2021, 9:07 pm
(Getty)
SEATTLE (AP) — Jimmy Medranda scored his first goal in three years midway through the second half, and the Seattle Sounders extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches with a 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
The Sounders (7-0-4) moved within a game of the MLS record for the longest season-opening unbeaten streak held by the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996, 2010), Kansas City (2000) and Real Salt Lake (2014).
Playing on a steamy night in Seattle with record temperatures that reached 102 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Whitecaps took a 2-1 lead scoring twice in six minutes early in the second half on a pair of defensive errors by Seattle.
Medranda was an unlikely candidate to score the equalizer with his last MLS goal coming in 2018 playing for Sporting Kansas City. But he was in the right spot to collect the rebound off a corner kick and drive a shot past Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau in the 71st minute to draw Seattle even.
HAVE A HIT@jimmymedranda scores the equalizer! 👏#SoundersMatchday | #SEAvVAN pic.twitter.com/Jpsv3VJ4AP
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 27, 2021
Raul Ruidiaz scored his ninth goal of the season in the first half for Seattle.
Roldan ➡️ Atencio ➡️ Smith ➡️ Ruidíaz @RaulRuidiazM strikes first and it's 1-0! 🙌#SoundersMatchday | #SEAvVAN pic.twitter.com/PgtCRp5z6N
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 27, 2021
Cristian Dájome scored in the opening moments of the second half off an error from Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland, and Lucas Cavallini gave Vancouver (2-6-2) the lead six minutes later.