VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC booked their ticket to the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place.
In the sixth minute of play, the referee awarded an early spot kick for the Sounders, with former ‘Caps player Fredy Montero putting the penalty away to give Seattle an early lead.
The ‘Caps would go on to be the livelier of the two sides after Seattle’s goal, eventually capitalizing on their early pressure in the 20th minute.
Cristian Gutierrez whipped a ball into the Seattle box, which was deflected into the path of Ryan Gauld to head home his fourth goal of the MLS season to tie the match at 1-1.
Both sides would carry the draw into the halftime interval.
Fast forward to the 83rd minute, the ‘Caps almost took the lead through Ranko Veselinović, who saw his headed effort off a corner kick cleared off the line and out.
In stoppage time, ‘Caps goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made a massive save to deny Montero from close range to preserve the draw and a spot into the playoffs.
The ‘Caps will now set their eyes on a Western Conference first round match-up against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park. Broadcast schedule, date and kickoff time will be confirmed in the coming days.
MATCH DETAILS
GE Appliances VWFC Player of Quality: Maxime Crépeau
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Attendance: 25,117
Scoring Summary
8' – SEA – Fredy Montero (penalty kick)
20' – VAN – Ryan Gauld (Brian White)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 51.3% – SEA 48.7%
Shots: VAN 5 – SEA 10
Shots on Goal: VAN 2 – SEA 4
Saves: VAN 3 – SEA 0
Fouls: VAN 12 – SEA 8
Offsides: VAN 5 – SEA 1
Corners: VAN 8 – SEA 3
Cautions
31' – SEA – Nouhou Tolo
31' – SEA – Yeimar Gómez Andrade
80' – SEA – Danny Levya
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 26.Florian Jungwirth, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 28.Jake Nerwinski; 23.Javain Brown (6.Bruno Gaspar 75'), 31.Russell Teibert ©, 17.Leonard Owusu, 3.Cristian Gutiérrez; 25.Ryan Gauld; 24.Brian White (9.Lucas Cavallini 90'+1), 11.Cristian Dájome (19.Janio Bikel 70')
Substitutes not used
1.Thomas Hasal, 2.Marcus Godinho, 15.Andy Rose, 27.Ryan Raposo, 45.Pedro Vite, 55.Michael Baldisimo
Seattle Sounders FC
24.Stefan Frei (c); 28.Yeimar Gómez Andrade, 3.Xavier Arreaga, 5.Nouhou Tolo; 16.Alex Roldan, 84.Josh Atencio (13.Jordan Morris HT), 22.Kelyn Rowe (23.Léo Chú 85'), 11.Brad Smith (75.Danny Levya 63'); 7.Cristian Roldan, 20.Nicolas Benezet; 12.Fredy Montero
Substitutes not used
30.Stefan Cleveland, 21.Reed Baker-Whiting, 27.Shane O'Neill, 45.Ethan Dobbelaere, 92.Abdoulaye Cissoko
