The Seattle Sounders – and their suddenly rampant playoff push – survived another wild Cascadia Cup affair on Sunday, edging the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 in a pulsating game that featured two penalty kicks, two red cards and plenty more drama besides.
With Vancouver's talented teenager Alphonso Davies dominating the early proceedings, Pedro Morales gave the hosts an early lead from the spot, only to be ejected for an elbow to Cristian Roldan's chin after Ozzie Alonso's finish had drawn Seattle level.
Then Brad Evans came off the bench and netted what turned out to be a game-winning PK for the visitors, and was shown a straight red of his own not long after for what appeared to be an attempted head butt on David Edgar.
The Sounders held off a desperate late 'Caps flurry as the game ended 10 vs. 10. Vancouver's faint playoff hopes were officially extinguished with the final result, while Seattle have now climbed well above the red line after looking as good as dead at midseason.
- VAN: Robinson admits Whitecaps "haven't been good enough" as playoff hopes die
- SEA: Seattle "find a way to win" despite Brad Evans ejection, other "deviations"
Box Score
- 25’ – VAN – Pedro Morales (PK)
- 39’ – SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (Joevin Jones)
- 81’ – SEA – Brad Evans (PK)
- Full box score
- Stats
- Watch highlights
Three Things
- ALL EYES ON DAVIES: The Whitecaps' 15-year-old phenom was the subject of head-turning pregame reports about interest from big European clubs as he made his second MLS start, and Sunday's lively outing will do nothing to quiet the rapidly-growing hype about his talent and potential. He took more shots than anyone on the field and his speed, skill, strength and savvy in earning the 'Caps PK was quite impressive.
- RAVE GREEN RESILIENCE: Seattle were missing star playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro due to suspension. Andreas Ivanschitz was a late injury scratch. Alvaro Fernandez limped off with a hamstring injury just 10 minutes in. And Jordan Morris had a quiet night by his recent standards. But Alonso and the Sounders' supporting cast stepped up in the clutch, proving that their late-season rally is neither luck nor accident.
- CASCADIA CRAZY: The sight of two veteran stars scoring PKs, then earning red cards for bizarre run-ins with opponents is weird enough. Factor in a rare goal from Alonso, Oniel Fisher becoming a rare "subbed sub" after he entered in relief of Fernandez and Blas Perez being...well, "peak Blas" in terms of his off-ball antics, and you have a recipe for a truly mad evening in downtown Vancouver.
